Last Updated on January 15, 2025 by Stella Canfield
UF/IFAS researchers are tackling a critical challenge: protecting California’s $73 billion wine and wine grape industry. Grapevine red blotch disease (GRBD) and grapevine leafroll disease (GLD), caused by complex insect vector-borne viruses, threaten the health of vineyards and the future of winemaking in the state.

Kirsten Pelz-Stelinski, center director of the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center and professor of entomology, and Ozgur Batuman, associate professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, have spent the last two years serving on a prestigious National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee analyzing critical challenges posed by GRBD and GLD in an effort to curb the spread and economic impacts of these diseases.
GRBD and GLD have serious consequences for grapevine health and wine quality. GRBD, characterized by distinct red blotches on grapevine leaves, disrupts fruit ripening, and GLD, characterized by leaf discoloration and curling leaf margin, reduces wine vigor and longevity. Both diseases lower grape yields, shorten the productive lifespan of vineyards, and impact the sugars and other fruit characteristics essential to flavor profiles, ultimately compromising wine quality and taste.
“Due to the intricate and lengthy process of winemaking, the full impact of GRBD and GLD often doesn’t become apparent until several years later,” explains Dr. Pelz-Stelinski. “That’s why early detection and intervention are important to help growers and winemakers avoid significant financial losses.”
The newly released report, commissioned by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, offers a comprehensive analysis of GRBD and GLD, addressing knowledge gaps and identifying priorities for future research. It also explores practical strategies for disease management, including using certified disease-free vines, removing infected plants, and implementing targeted and area-wide vector management to reduce virus transmission.
“This research is helping create a more resilient wine industry,” says Dr. Batuman. “By addressing these challenges, we are not only protecting vineyards today – we’re ensuring the future of wine grape production for generations to come.”