Diseases & Pests
The Phylloxera Vastatrix The Phylloxera vastatrix, also known as “the devastator” was given its name by a French botanist Jules Emile Planchon in the late 1960’s. Introduced in Europe form North America at a time plant trading was at its best, it appearance was first reported by Professor J.O. Westwood who had received insect’s samples from a greenhouse situated in Hammersmith. At the same time, the Phylloxera had already spread among the vineyards of south of France even though it was only a few years later that the blight was discovered. The Phylloxera is an aphid leaving in symbiose with its host (only vines), but never killing it, by infecting the leaf and the roots especially. However, it is worth pointing out that the vine dies as a result of the feeding wounds of Phylloxera being infested by either fungi or bacteria. On the other hand, the main defence used by Amercian’s vine to defend themselves against the Phylloxera is to mend its wounds, therefore not allowing any other intrusion. By the late 1980’s, the Phylloxera had spread over Europe and had already outbreak South Africa and New Zealand. Measures to irradiate the disease were many and most of them were proven unsuccessful. Flooding vineyards seems to have been a positive solution but couldn’t be exploited over the widespread blight. Following many debates, diverse organisations meeting created to fight the spread of the disease, experimentation by dedicated Commission, the solution was suggested by the American entomologist Riley: grafting European species onto American rootstocks.
Guillaume DELIANCOURT
www.deliancourt.net
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