Institut für Rebenzüchtung
Phytoplasmoses, as cause of the yellowing disease, are of great ecological importance. It is spread over contaminated propagation material and transferred locally over phloem sucking cicadas. While Bois noir (BN) is widespread, Germany is so far free of Flavescence dorée (FD) and its vector Scaphoideus titanus. Due to climate change pests and vectors are more and more spread towards north. Southern German wine regions are directly threatened. The vector established itself in Elsass, next to the German boards, since 2016. Therefore, monitoring actions concerning FD infected Grapevines and its vector S. titanus are essential. VO 2031/2016 entering into force, will make a systematic monitoring necessary. An intensive monitoring of vineyards will be needed as prevention measure, where S. tinanus is present, as its presence would most certainly lead to individual infected grapevines. As FD phytoplasmoses are originated from certain 16SrV phytoplasmoses distributed on domestic alders, it is possible that individual infected grapevines could be caused by chance through alder cicadas. Main project goal of PhytoMo is to develop and test a monitoring method based on remote and ground-base sensing methods for the detection of grapevines with yellowing disease. This monitoring method will reduce the currently necessary visual screenings in vineyards and through flexible application time optimize the area output.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
