'About Grape Phylloxera' Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET Photo courtesy Agriculture Victoria (Rutherglen). adult. phylloxera of image microscope electron Scanning

ABOUT GRAPE PHYLLOXERA

Of the pests and diseases endemic to Australia, our greatest biosecurity threat is grape phylloxera. This tiny insect pest destroys vines by feeding on their roots.

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) is a devastating soft bodied insect pest of grapevines worldwide, affecting Vitis species (commercial grapevines and ornamental vines). Phylloxera is native to eastern North America, first affecting In Australia, grape phylloxera is native European Vitis vinifera in the late 19th century. currently confined to parts of Victoria There have been several hundred genetic strains of and New South Wales. Commercial vine phylloxera documented worldwide, with Australia plantings in Australia are predominantly identifying 115 endemic strains. own-rooted Vitis vinifera, highly susceptible to phylloxera. Preventing its At present, these endemic strains are confined to a movement to currently uninfested areas number of geographic indications (GI) regions in parts of is therefore of utmost importance. Victoria and New South Wales (https://vinehealth.com.au/ pests/pests-and-diseases/phylloxera/phylloxera-strains/). In some regions only a single strain has been detected, but in others, multiple phylloxera strains have been found. A LACK OF AVAILABLE CHEMICAL Until now, phylloxera in Australia have been considered as OR BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS FOR genetically identical to their parents, reproducing asexually. PHYLLOXERA MEANS PULLING OUT This suggests the historical introduction of these separate INFESTED BLOCKS AND REPLANTING strains of phylloxera and has important implications for WITH NEW VINES THAT HAVE BEEN management of this pest. Recent surveys in the King GRAFTED ONTO PHYLLOXERA-RESISTANT Valley, Victoria have identified the presence of closely ROOTSTOCK IS THE ONLY CONTROL related phylloxera strains, indicating that some sexual OPTION. THE COST OF GRAFTED VINE reproduction may have occurred. MATERIAL ALONE IS 3 - 5 TIMES THAT OF The grapegrowing states of South Australia, Western OWN ROOTED VINE MATERIAL. Australia and Tasmania are recognised as phylloxera free.

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Page 1 LIFECYCLE dependent on which endemic strain is present. Phylloxera have The phylloxera lifecycle involves been found to survive for up to egg, nymph and adult stages. 29 days without food. Adult phylloxera are 1mm long, Adults can lay around 200 eggs yellow to brown in colour and per cycle and are capable of predominantly reproduce several breeding cycles per season, asexually in Australia. Phylloxera depending on the virulence of feed on leaves and/or grapevine the phylloxera strain, nutrition roots causing death of the and environmental conditions. European grapevine, Vitis vinifera, Populations peak between Phylloxera adults, nymphs and eggs. Photo within 5-6 years on average, November and March. courtesy Agriculture Victoria (Rutherglen).

the roots leave them prone to FEEDING developing root rot. Depending The roots of V. vinifera are on the phylloxera strain, leaf galls extremely susceptible to attack by may occur on the leaves of suckers phylloxera strains present in of American Vitis rootstocks. Australia. Phylloxera feed by Grapevines grafted to phylloxera puncturing the root surface, tolerant rootstocks or nursery causing the vine to form galls plantings may show signs of or nodosities on root hairs and phylloxera insects on the roots and swellings (tuberosities) on older damage in the form of nodosities, roots. On the root hairs, these however visual symptoms in the galls have a characteristic hook- canopy do not occur, which makes shaped form and this damage detection difficult. stops the growth of the feeder Grafted vines can sustain

roots, ultimately killing the vine. populations of phylloxera, which Galls on grapevine roots. Photo courtesy In addition, feeding wounds on can spread to ungrafted vines. Agriculture Victoria (Rutherglen).

KNOW YOUR STRAIN strains including G1, G4, G7, G19, G20, G30, G38. It’s important to know which Phylloxera strain-rootstock phylloxera strain has been found interaction research has shown on your property, in your region that other than own rooted Vitis or in a region close to you. This vinifera which is susceptible to all enables an appropriate rootstock endemic phylloxera strains, many selection to be undertaken when rootstocks are tolerant to planting, based on knowledge of phylloxera where the phylloxera phylloxera strain-rootstock can still feed and reproduce on the interactions. Identifying roots but in lower numbers than on phylloxera down to the strain own roots and therefore the vine level can also help link new is not debilitated. Very few infestations to their source. rootstocks convey true resistance Endemic phylloxera strains are of where the phylloxera cannot different virulence, likely suited to develop beyond the first instar to slightly different environmental the adult and cannot therefore lay conditions, and until recently, were eggs. The level of the resistance identified as genetically different. conferred by a particular rootstock Current rootstock testing uses up is dependent on the strain(s) of to seven of our various endemic phylloxera feeding on the roots.

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Page 2 SIGNS OF INFESTATION spreading pattern as the phylloxera move from vine to adjacent vine Early signs of a phylloxera and from row to row, spreading out infestation include slow and from the roots of the vine where stunted shoot growth and early it was first introduced. Smaller yellowing of leaves as they lose satellite spots also occur when function. Excessive weed growth phylloxera has been accidentally undervine is common. Leaf moved on clothing, footwear or yellowing will normally be seen in vineyard machinery. Phylloxera two to three neighbouring vines causes considerable losses in both –usually, but not always, within quality and yield, the magnitude the same row. In the mid stages of of which is related to vine variety, infestation, an infested vineyard phylloxera strain, soil moisture and area looks like an ‘oil spot’ in its seasonal temperatures.

HOW DOES PHYLLOXERA SPREAD

Movement of phylloxera in ground from root to root. They Australia is most often attributed may also be carried by wind with to crawlers. These are easily an estimated spread of 25 metres. picked up by clothing, footwear, Natural spread within a vineyard equipment and vehicles (including has been estimated at between harvesters), or in soil and vine 100-200 metres a year. Eggs and material (leaves and shoots), wingless adults can also be spread and spread to other vineyards in soil, in leaves with leaf galls and and regions causing widespread on planting material (cuttings, damage. Crawlers can naturally rootlings, potted vines). Other spread from vine to vine by movement vectors include grapes crawling along the soil surface, and grape products (unfiltered in the canopy, or crawling below juice, grape marc).

PHYLLOXERA MANAGEMENT ZONES, AUSTRALIA WHERE IS PHYLLOXERA IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES (! Baatthhuurrsstt Grapegrowing regions are grapegrowing states of SA, WA and (!

(! (! Syyddnneeyy GGoossffoorrdd delineated by phylloxera status. TAS have not become infested with (! (! Miilldduurraa (! RRiicchhmoonndd AAvvaalloonn Grriiffffiitthh (! (! KKaattoooombbaa Phylloxera Exclusion Zones have phylloxera. QLD is also thought to Haayy (! (! BBllaaxxllaanndd (! SSyyddnneeyy (! (! Goouullbbuurrnn be free of phylloxera. (! been surveyed and found free ! ( Ouuyyeenn (! Waaggggaa Waaggggaa or are declared free historically. To prevent the spread of phylloxeraSwaann Hiillll Caannbbeerrrraa (! BBaarrggoo ACT (! Woollloonnggoonngg Phylloxera Risk Zones are of from infested areas, each state has Tuumbbaarruumbbaa (! (! Moossss VVaallee Sydney Region (! AAllbbiioonn PPaarrkk Sydney Region unknown status. Phylloxera Infested a series of regulated movement (!

(! (! Zones contain vineyards known requirements documentedHoorrsshhaam in Beennddiiggoo (! Allbbuurryy -- Coorroowaa to be infested, currently confined their Plant QuarantineG Standardrreeaatt Weesstteerrnn (! (! VIICTORIIA YYaarrrraawwoonnggaa (! (! RRuutthheerrgglleenn AAllbbuurryy to areas in Victoria (North East, or equivalent. Many of these are (! (! WWooddoonnggaa(! Baallllaarraatt (! Haamiillttoonn (! Meellbboouurrnnee (! (! WWaannggaarraattttaa Maroondah, Nagambie, Mooroopna, sanctioned based on a prescribed (! (! (! Saallee Geeeelloonngg BBeennaalllala BBeeeecchhwwoorrtthh MMyyrrttlleeffoorrdd Moorrweellll (! ! Upton and Whitebridge) and disinfestation treatment involving TYPE ( (! KKiinngg VVaallleeyy BBrriigghhtt Phylloxera Infested Zone (! New South Wales (Sydney region for example, dry heat, hot water, Phylloxera Risk Zone MMaannssffiieelldd ° (! Noorrtthh Eaasstt Phylloxera Exclusion Zone

and Albury/Corowa). The major filtration or chemical application. (!

KKyyaabbrraamm (! Moooorrooooppnnaa RRoocchheesstteerr (! MMoooorrooooppnnaa (! TTaattuurraa (! LLaanncceeffiieelldd (! YYaarrrraa GGlelenn HHeeaalleessvvilillele SCALE: 1:6,000,000 (! (! RRuusshhwwoorrtthh DATUM: GDA2020 (! MMuurrcchhiissoonn PROJECTION: Transverse Mercator For further information, refer to Vinehealth Australia’s (! CCooldldssttrreeaamm th (! DATE: 9 July 2020 SOFTWARE: ESRI ArcGIS v 10.7.1 NNaaggaammbbiiee DATA SOURCE: Geoscience Australia, DAF QLD, (! website www.vinehealth.com.au or phone (08) 8273 0550. DPI NSW, and DJPR VIC HHeeaatthhccoottee DISCLAIMER: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information displayed, (! MMoonnbbuullkk Vinehealth Australia make no representations, either express or implied, that the information displayed is (! accurate or fit for any purpose and expressly disclaims all liability for loss or damage arising from reliance Whhiitteebbrriiddggee Maarroooonnddaahh Naaggaambbiiee Uppttoonn upon the information displayed. (! (!

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