Crown gall of grape Crown Gall of Grapes Jim Travis, Jo Rytter, Ken Hickey Crown gall occurs on over 600 species of plants. The disease is characterized by galls or overgrowths that form on the roots, trunk, and arms of grape vines. V. vinifera cultivars are more susceptible to crown gall than V. labrusca cultivars. These galls are mostly found on the lower truck near the soil line.
Large galls can develop rapidly and completely girdle a young vine in one season.
When galls are numerous or when they are located on major roots or on the root crown, they disrupt the translocation of water and nutrients, leading to poor growth, gradual dieback, and sometimes death of the vine. In general, affected plants are more susceptible to adverse environmental conditions, especially winter injury. The major symptom of crown gall is the fleshy galls. Large galls may develop rapidly and completely girdle young vines in one season. Galled vines frequently produce inferior shoot growth, and portions of the vine above the galls may die.