Iinkowani zincani kokobana zibonakala ngemakhroskowubhu kwaphela, zincani zakheke njengengongwana. Zinemigodi yenkowani begodu ngemva kokumila e-branched hyphae. Ivamise ukumila msinya ebujameni kobuswe obutjhisako, yakhe iimbumbula zenkowani ezirhatjhwa mumoya kanye namanzi. Isibonelo esihle senkowani sikghoro esimila eburothweni lokha bubekwe etjhwaratjhwareni emalangana. Kuyatjhisa begodu kunobuswe ngaphakathi kwetjhwaratjhwara ekuvumela iimbumbula bona zimile.
Ama-fungal spores avuthelelwa namkhana athelwe ekarini elimanzi lamadiriyibe, nanyana esigodweni samdiriyibe nanyana ehlanganiseleni yamadiriyibe bese imile ngaphasi kobujamo bezulu obunobuswe. Ingenelele ekarini, ukusuka ekarini iye ku-stoma (nekuyimbobo, etholakala e-epidermis yemakari), nanyana ngaphandle kwekari. Iinkowani zidla amaseli wentjalo zidlulele kwezinye iindawo. Zikhupha ama-nutrients bese kuthi amaseli abenzotho nanyana abesalomtha ngebala. Amatitjhu afileko abanzotho ngebala, ngemva kwalokho abenzima nokumhlophe, i-hyphae ematofotofo ivele ku-stoma.
Ikowani ingalala emalungeni westjalo esisilaphezekileko, ehlabathini, nanyana ehlumeleni. Nangabe sele itheleleleke ngobulwelobu, ngeze kube lula ukulawula iinkowani, kodwana kungalawulwa kuhle ngentjhabalalisi. Iintjhabalalisi zidoswa sitjalo zibulale iinkowani ngaphakathi estjalweni. Imihlobo yamalwelwe ajwayeleke khulu abangwa zinkowani kubalwa i- powdery mildew (oidium), downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), dead arm disease (streepvlek - Phomopsis viticola), botrytis (vaalvrot), Eutypa dieback (tandpyn) kanye ne- ‘Black Goo’ (wortelvrot).