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A Technical Guide for Wine Producers
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RECENT ARTICLES | WYNBOER HOME
Vine mealybug and chemical control: Is this the end of the road?
Grapevine producers should not underestimate the economic importance of the grapevine mealybug (Planococcus ficus). Not only does direct damage occur from large infestations, but more importantly the mealybug is a vector for the vine leafroll virus, that can cause extensive damage to vineyards if left unchecked. Chemical control has given good control of mealybug for many years but insecticide resistance is possibly widely indicated by control failures.
Recent research has indicated that both target-site and metabolic resistance mechanisms are present, in the form of insensitive acetylcholinesterase and enhanced esterase activity.
The insensitive acetylcholinesterase mechanism gives resistance to Organophosfates and Carbamates and is very specific to certain insecticides in these groups. Enhanced esterase activity gives resistance to a broader spectrum of insecticides and different chemical groups as well.
This should cause concern for growers, as many conventional pesticides will prove ineffective against these resistance mechanisms. A deeper understanding and characterization of these mechanisms will give researchers a clearer picture of the situation, and should allow an informed choice of chemical to ensure more sufficient control if these mechanisms are present in the population.
Research on these aspects of mealybug resistance are currently being funded by the deciduous fruit producers trust (DFPT) and Winetech and is being done in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch. Information from this work is aimed at the extension of field life of currently used chemicals, as well as providing producers with a strategy for more effective and sustainable chemical control.
For more information contact, Owen de Wet at Tel. 809 3466, Fax 809 3584, or e-mail Owen@infruit.agric.za.
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Wynboer is incorporated in WineLand, magazine of the SA wine producers.
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Owen de Wet (ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Stellenbosch) & Graham Moores (Rothamsted Research, UK)
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