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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372310
Research Project: Watershed-scale Assessment of Pest Dynamics and Implications for Area-wide Management of Invasive Insects and Weeds

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Survey of vineyard insects and plants to identify potential insect vectors and noncrop reservoirs of grapevine red blotch virus

Author
item WILSON, HOUSTON - University Of California
item Hogg, Brian
item BLAISDELL, G - University Of California
item ANDERSEN, JEREMY - University Of California
item YAZDANI, ARMAND - University Of California
item BILLINGS, ALEXIS - University Of California
item OOI, KEI-LIN - University Of California
item SOLTANI, N - University Of California, Davis
item ALMEIDA, RODRIGO - University Of California
item COOPER, MONICA - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item RWAHNIH, M - University Of California, Davis
item DAANE, KENT - University Of California

Submitted to: PhytoFrontiers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/31/2021
Publication Date: 1/19/2022
Citation: Wilson, H., Hogg, B.N., Blaisdell, G.K., Andersen, J., Yazdani, A., Billings, A., Ooi, K., Soltani, N., Almeida, R., Cooper, M.L., Rwahnih, M., Daane, K. 2022. Survey of vineyard insects and plants to identify potential insect vectors and noncrop reservoirs of grapevine red blotch virus. Phytofrontiers. 2(1):66-73. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-04-21-0028-R.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-04-21-0028-R

Interpretive Summary: Grapevine red blotch virus causes rod blotch disease in cultivated grapes and lowers the quantity and quality of grape yields. The virus is now present in vineyards throughout the world, suggesting that it has been spread largely through human activity. However, recent work has indicated that the virus is also transmitted by insects in vineyards. We surveyed insects and plants in California vineyards and surrounding natural habitats to identify insects that may play a role in spreading the virus. The virus was found in cultivated and non-cultivated grapes, but not in any of the other 34 plant species that were tested, indicating that it only attacks grapevines. Eight insects tested positive for the virus; one of these is already known to transmit the virus, and the potential roles of the other seven in spreading the virus merit further study.

Technical Abstract: Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV) is a recently characterized DNA virus in the family Geminiviridae. This pathogen is the causal agent of grapevine red blotch disease, which affects cultivated grapevines and leads to negative effects on crop quality and yield. GRBV is present in vineyards and plant material repositories around the world, indicating spread that was largely human mediated. That said, recent surveys have demonstrated that there appears to be secondary transmission, most likely by an insect vector. Here, vineyard insects and plants were surveyed to identify potential candidate vectors and non-crop plants that may act as reservoirs for this pathogen. Results indicate that GRBV is limited to Vitis spp., including both non-cultivated and cultivated Vitis spp. Eight insect genera or species, field collected in vineyards, tested positive for GRBV, these were Acinopterus angustatus, Colladonus coquilleti, C. montanus reductus, Colladonus sp., Lygus sp., Scaphytopius spp., Spissistilus festinus and an unknown Delphacid. Of these, S. festinus is already known to be capable of transmitting GRBV while Scaphytopius spp. and the various species of Colladonus recovered merit closer evaluation as candidate vectors due to their affinity with Vitis spp.