Sniffing Out Powdery Mildew: Can Dogs Detect Early Symptoms of Erysiphe necator?

Erysiphe necator, the causal agent of grapevine powdery mildew, is an obligate pathogenic fungus that completes its biological cycle exclusively on grapevine (Vitis vinifera). The biological characteristics of the fungus, combined with the destructive nature of cluster infections and the difficulty in detecting early symptoms, pose significant challenges to the implementation of rational and timely disease management strategies. As a result, control approaches are often based on fungicide preventive treatments. Within the framework of integrated and sustainable disease management, we trained dogs for the early detection of E. necator symptoms. Thanks to their extraordinary sense of smell, dogs are already employed in diverse fields such as security, hazardous substance detection, and biodiversity conservation, and they can also play a role in plant health. We developed a protocol using two experienced detection dogs; the training sessions were conducted from March to June 2025 in controlled conditions. Remarkably, both dogs were able to detect the presence of the pathogen as little as 2% of the leaf tissue showing active sporulation. This promising result suggests that trained dogs could effectively complement traditional monitoring methods, enabling field monitoring activities, reducing the need for intensive chemical treatments, lowering environmental impact, and promoting a more sustainable viticulture aligned with the principles of integrated pest management.