The Romans were already aware of this dreaded vine disease, which is proven by preserved descriptions of the symptoms. It is one of the most important diseases worldwide that are caused by viruses in viticulture. A strong increase occurred in Europe from the 1880s onwards during the phylloxera catastrophe caused by contaminated rootstocks. The course of the disease is gradual. Only after a few years after infection do the first symptoms appear. It is a group of several, related diseases. Because of this, there are also many synonyms such as degradation disease, fanleaf disease, fasciation (banding), short knottiness (French: court noué) and panachure (shown in the picture below), which in part do not describe the disease itself, but its symptoms (which sometimes also occur in other diseases in a similar form). In the 19th century, the prevailing opinion was that the cause was a degenerative consequence of excessive vegetative propagation of the vine.
The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena