Virus, virus-like and phytoplasma diseases of grapevines constitute a major limiting factor to the development and well-being of the world viticultural industry and to the quality and quantity of the crop. Although the technology is now available for detection and elimination of most of the pathogens occurring in propagation material, it is most unfortunate that dissemination of infectious diseases continues. Scientific knowledge is nevertheless advancing rapidly and one consequence of this is the increased number of publications. This raises the question of how to offer to those interested in a particular field, the means for following with the least difficulty the research work being done. One way of achieving this goal is to produce and make available updated accounts of the state-of-art of grapevine virology and comprehensive bibliographic reports. The present issue hosts a new edition of the directory of infectious diseases of grapevines by G.P. Martelli and E. Boudon-Padieu and the latest bibliographic report (1998-2004) on the viroses and virus-like diseases of the grapevine by R. Bovey. Special care was taken in the organization of the subject matter, grouping diseases and setting them in a well thought of order, so as to produce a document which can readily be used by scientists, technicians, students and practitioners.