Impact of the "Flavescence Dorée" Phytoplasma on Xylem Growth and Anatomical Characteristics in Trunks of 'Chardonnay' Grapevines ().

Flavescence dorée (FD) is a grapevine disease caused by ' Phytoplasma vitis' (FDp), which is epidemically transmitted by the Nearctic leafhopper . In this study, we applied dendrochronological techniques to analyse the response to FDp infections in terms of wood ring widths and anatomical structures of the xylem and phloem tissues of the trunk of the susceptible grapevine cultivar 'Chardonnay.' As a rule, grapevines are susceptible to water shortage and reduce their growth in diameter in case of summer drought.