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In winemaking, roots often run deep.

For generations of families in the wine business, roots reflect tradition and passion for the craft. Wine is rooted in history and culture, central to celebrations and shared experiences. Grapevines themselves need roots anchoring them into the soil, taking up life-sustaining moisture and nutrients to produce the high-quality grapes needed for wine.

Protecting and nurturing roots in new plantings is essential, especially when the investment in vines alone could be more than $10,000 per acre.

The most common below-ground pest of grapevines is grape phylloxera. They are followed closely by a raft of plant-parasitic nematodes.

Nematodes ─ the significant, challenging root pest of young vines

Managing nematodes, the second most damaging below-ground pest of grapevines, is essential, yet can be complicated.

These microscopic worms feed on grapevine roots, causing damage that can lead to stunted growth, reduced yields and increased susceptibility to other stresses like drought or disease. Five primary species plague grapevine roots.

• Root-knot nematodes, which cause nutrient and moisture-blocking galls on young feeder roots, are most prevalent within a soil depth of 6 to 35 inches.
• Dagger nematodes can reduce the longevity of vineyards and weaken or kill young vines. They can transmit grapevine fanleaf virus, a serious disease for vineyards.
• Infestation by root lesion nematodes restricts the root systems, causing absence of major roots and dead feeder roots ─ severely limiting the top growth of young vines.

Soil fumigation is the traditional method for reducing nematode populations prior to vineyard establishment. However, there are few effective post-plant controls available to protect the tender roots of young vines and even fewer control solutions are true nematicides, targeting only harmful, plant-parasitic nematodes.

Beneficial nematodes contribute to soil health, sustainability

In the soil, not all nematodes are bad. “Eighty percent of the nematodes in the soil are beneficial,” says Tim Thoden, global biology leader in nematicides at Corteva Agriscience. “They’re either feeding on bacteria or on fungi, or they’re hunting other soil organisms. Only a small fraction of the thousands of nematodes in a handful of soil are parasitic to roots.”

In a robust and balanced soil environment, the beneficial nematodes and soil organisms can do what they do best, naturally fighting off diseases and pests, improving soil structure and contributing to the soil nutrient cycle. When soil is more naturally balanced and resilient, it not only supports faster growth, but, over time, may need fewer artificial inputs.

To protect newly planted and non-bearing grapevines from damage without disrupting the healthy balance of beneficial organisms in soil, growers have a new tool for the control of these costly plant parasitic nematodes. Corteva has launched Salibro^® CA nematicide with Reklemel^® active, a novel  non-fumigant nematicide that is highly selective against plant-parasitic nematodes. It is one of the very few post-plant nematicides available for use in non-bearing vineyards.

As the first sulfonamide for nematode control, Salibro^® CA nematicide provides a new mode of action for effective resistance management. It may be used at plant and post-plant via drip irrigation to reach nematodes in the row, where roots are growing. Providing activity for 30 to 45 days, depending on soil type, Salibro CA nematicide provides extended effective control.

Contact your local Corteva representative or retailer for additional information. Salibro® CA nematicide is available for sale for the 2025 season.

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^{™ ®} Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Salibro® CA is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Reklemel^® is a registered active ingredient. Always read and follow label directions. ©2025 Corteva.  028764. BR (05/25) CAAG5SBRO059