Four new projects to tackle key pests and diseases

Phylloxera, crown gall, scale and grapevine viruses are the focus of four new pest and disease research projects now under way with funding by Wine Australia and various research partners.

“The launch of these projects is pivotal for Australian vineyards, offering essential solutions for virus detection, pest control and pathogen management,” explained Robyn Dixon, Wine Australia’s R&I Program Manager Biosecurity, Pest & Disease. “We’ve engaged with the industry, listened to their needs, and are investing in projects that tackle critical factors affecting vineyard health, productivity, profitability and longevity,” she said.

Phylloxera: new tools for surveillance and management

Conducted and jointly funded by Agriculture Victoria Research, this three-year project will focus on improving surveillance, diagnostics, disinfestation and containment practices for phylloxera as well as screen resistant rootstocks and improve our understanding of the ecology and biology of phylloxera.

Among the outcomes the project aims to deliver are:

• revised National Phylloxera Management Protocols in line with results from this and previous projects
• a revised National Diagnostics Protocol for phylloxera that distinguishes key strains
• validated disinfestation options for complex vineyard machinery
• new knowledge on the susceptibility status of key commercial rootstocks to phylloxera strains
• a revised and updated Grapevine Rootstock Selector Tool
• improved knowledge of the diversity, distribution and origin of Victorian phylloxera genotypes within a global context
• an understanding of the risk of new genotypes arising in Australia through sexual reproduction.

Grapevine viruses: best practice sampling and detection in propagation assets

Led and co-funded by Agriculture Victoria Research, this three-year collaborative project with Affinity Labs and the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, aims to address key gaps in grapevine virus surveillance and diagnostics. The project aims to develop best practices for virus detection in propagation vineyards for integration into a national grapevine certification standard.

Specifically, the project partners will:

• review and evaluate current virus management practices in the propagation supply chain
• assess the commercial impact of single and mixed grapevine virus infections and provide recommendations for them to be precluded from planting material
• develop and test optimal protocols for in-field sampling of grapevines for each of the proscribed viruses and virus combinations
• evaluate and improve existing diagnostic protocols and technologies, develop new assays, and establish a proficiency testing framework to ensure accurate and reliable detection of grapevine viruses in Australian laboratories.

Crown gall: identifying pathogens, symptom severity and diagnostic protocols

Led by researchers from the University of Adelaide, in partnership with Affinity Labs, this ‘sprint’ project will be completed by mid-next year. It aims to address the urgent need to identify the pathogens involved in crown gall infestations in Australian vineyards and to assess the factors influencing the severity of the associated symptoms. Additionally, the project will establish diagnostic protocols for the rapid and accurate testing of these causal pathogens once identified.

Scale: distribution, biology and effective control

This three-year project is being led and jointly funded by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) in partnership with the University of Adelaide, the Australian Wine Research Institute and the Australian National University.

Objectives of the project include:

• identifying and mapping the distribution of scale species in commercial vineyards across Australia to provide a comprehensive overview of their presence
• understanding the biology of scale insects, focusing on generation cycles and crawler emergence timing to enhance management strategies
• evaluating the effectiveness and impact of current vineyard management strategies on scale pest populations to identify successful methods and areas for improvement in pest control practices
• evaluating the effectiveness of various pesticides on different life stages of scale insects to optimise chemical control methods and improve pest management outcomes.