Grapevine cultivation in Europe is severely affected by major fungal pathogens, such as Plasmopara viticola
(downy mildew), Erysiphe necator (powdery mildew), and Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), which necessitate frequent
fungicide applications. To support the monitoring of airborne inoculum, we developed a novel quadruplex
quantitative PCR assay that allows simultaneous detection and quantification of P. viticola, E. necator, B. cinerea
spores, and an internal positive control in a single reaction. Airborne spores were collected from a Swiss vineyard
during the 2023 growing season using a rotating-arm sampler, and the results were compared with disease as
sessments and meteorological data. The quadruplex qPCR exhibited high sensitivity and specificity, detecting
spores even at low densities. The assay revealed pathogen-specific dispersal patterns strongly associated with
climatic conditions: E. necator and B. cinerea spore concentrations decreased after rainfall but exhibited subse
quent peaks under favorable humidity and temperature, whereas P. viticola spores persisted throughout the
season, with maximum numbers occurring after rainfall and the reactivation of sporulation from oil spots. This
work introduces a robust molecular tool for the simultaneous monitoring of the three most important grapevine
pathogens and highlights the potential of qPCR-based spore quantification to support more precise, data-driven
control strategies.