Grapevine Powdery Mildew UV-C Information

Build Your Own Vineyard UV-C Machine

The following resources are intended to help you determine the materials and potential time / skills needed to make your own UV-C light array for vineyard use. Mention of specific brands does not indicate endorsement.  Please follow all local regulations for the safe and legal use of this tool on your farm.  The use of UV-C is not a risk-free practice.

• Materials Guide for Building an Array – Updated November 2021
• Safe Operation of UVC Arrays

UV-C In the News

• Shining the Light on Collaboration – November 2021 – Good Fruit Grower
• Willamette Valley Vineyards Deploys First UV Light Robot in Vineyards – June 2021 – Wine Industry Advisor
• The Potential of Ultraviolet Light to Suppress Grapevine Powdery Mildew – May 2021 – Progressive Crop Consultant
• Robots armed with UV light fight grape mildew – June 2020 – Cornell News
• A Shot in the Dark – August 2019 – Good Fruit Grower

UV-C In Research

There are many research articles on the use of UV-C in different cropping systems (including grape). Below are just a few examples. If you are looking for more, try a search query in Google Scholar.

• Effects of Ultraviolet-C Light on Grapevine Powdery Mildew and Fruit Quality in Vitis vinifera Chardonnay (2024)

• Evaluation of Germicidal UV-C Light for Suppression of Grape Powdery Mildew and Botrytis Bunch Rot in Western Oregon (2024)

• Effects of Nighttime Applications of Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Upon Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe necator), Downy Mildew (Plasmopara viticola), and Sour Rot of Grapevine (2023)

• Managing Grapevine Powdery Mildew with Ultraviolet-C Light in Washington State (2023) (.pdf)
• UV-C Light as a Tool to Manage Grape Powdery Mildew (2022)

• Flashes of UV-C Light Stimulate Defenses of Vitis vinifera L. ‘Chardonnay’ Against Erysiphe necator in Greenhouse and Vineyard Conditions (2021)