Finalising and validating a diagnostic probe for the early detection of Phylloxera

Critical to the management of phylloxera in Australia is the early detection of new infestations, ensuring management options are implemented rapidly and minimising quarantine breakdown. There is an urgent need to develop a phylloxera-specific detection system, able to directly recognise the insect itself and not its associated symptoms on grapevines. Research presented in this study focuses on the early detection of phylloxera using DNA-based technology. Species-specific primers were developed for phylloxera and their specificity was confirmed after thorough screening using a wide range of vineyard organisms and aphid genera. Preliminary testing of the detection limits of the phylloxera-specific primers was conducted using field-sourced soil types spiked with a known number of phylloxera. The results indicate that the primers are both robust and sensitive enough to proceed to a thorough field testing stage aimed at comparing this technology to conventional ground-truthing methods.