Evaluating the Potential of High-Resolution Visible Remote Sensing to Detect Shiraz Disease in Grapevines

Background and Aims. Shiraz disease (SD) is a viral associated with Grapevine virus A that causes significant yield loss in economically important grape cultivars Australia such as Merlot. Current diagnostic methods are time-consuming costly. This study evaluates an alternative methodology using visible remote sensing imagery to detect SD grapevines. Methods Results. High-resolution images were captured of grapevines two South Australian viticultural regions over seasons. The projected leaf area (PLA) individual was estimated from the images. Virus-infected vines had significantly lower PLA than healthy early season but fewer difference after veraison. only observed coinfected grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaVs) (GVA). infected either GLRaVs or GVA similar vines. Conclusions. RGB technology has potential rapidly estimate infection Our observations shoot devigouration calls into question etiology SD. Further validation technique incorporating different regions, seasons, cultivars, combinations needed for improving robustness method. Significance Study. preliminary presents new rapid low-cost surveillance method infections vineyards, which could cost growers who conduct on-ground visual assessments lab-based tissue testing at vineyard scale.