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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243687

Title: Preventing Spread of Vine leafroll virus and Vine Mealybug

Author
item BUCHANAN, M - Oregon State University
item DREVES, A - Oregon State University
item HILTON, R - Oregon State University
item KAISER, C - Oregon State University
item Martin, Robert
item SKINKIS, P - Oregon State University
item WALTON, V - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Oregon State University Extension Publications
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2009
Publication Date: 10/6/2009
Citation: Buchanan, M., Dreves, A.J., Hilton, R., Kaiser, C., Martin, R.R., Skinkis, P.A., Walton, V.M. 2009. Preventing spread of Vine leafroll virus and vine mealybug. Oregon State University Extension Publications. EM8990.

Interpretive Summary: Vine mealybug has relentlessly spread northwards along the U.S. West Coast since the first find during 1994 in California. The northernmost find to date is in Mendocino County. This mealybug reaches much higher populations than native mealybugs and has resulted in the rapid spread of leafroll disease. Leafroll disease in grapevines is caused by a complex of 11 species of viruses and occurs throughout the western state's grape regions but causes more damage in the cooler wine grape regions. These viruses cause leaf chlorosis and leaf margins to roll downward. Leafroll can reduce berry yields up to 40%, delay fruit maturity, and impede fruit pigmentation. Leafroll is also associated with poor grafts and young vine failure. Insects were first implicated as vectors of leafroll after the incidence of diseased vines was shown to annually increase in vineyards and follow distinct geographic patterns. Indeed, the pattern of leafroll diseased vines often resembles patterns of mealybug infestations. Identified insect vectors of leafroll in Oregon’s grape regions are grape, obscure, and longtailed mealybug. Vine mealybug, an invasive species, is believed to play an important role in the spread of this virus in California, and we believe that growers should be vigilant in order to prevent and mitigate its spread to Oregon. This bulletin outlines strategies that should be implemented to reduce the risk of vine mealybug being introduced into Oregon.

Technical Abstract: Leafroll disease in grapevines is caused by a complex of 11 species of viruses and occurs throughout the California's grape regions but causes more damage in the cooler wine grape regions. These viruses cause leaf chlorosis and leaf margins to roll downward. Leafroll can reduce berry yields up to 40%, delay fruit maturity, and impede fruit pigmentation. Leafroll is also associated with poor grafts and young vine failure. Insects were first implicated as vectors of leafroll after the incidence of diseased vines was shown to annually increase in vineyards and follow distinct geographic patterns. Indeed, the pattern of leafroll diseased vines often resembles patterns of mealybug infestations. Identified insect vectors of leafroll in Oregon’s grape regions are grape, obscure, and longtailed mealybug. Vine mealybug, an invasive species is believed to play an important role in the spread of this virus in California, and we believe that growers should be vigilant in order to prevent and mitigate its spread to Oregon. This bulletin outlines strategies that should be implemented to reduce the risk of vine mealybug being introduced into Oregon.