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Grapevine Phylloxera is one of the worlds most damaging grapevine pests and poses a
significant threat to the multi-million dollar Australian wine industry. This small yellow
aphid-like insect lives and feeds on the roots of grapevines, destroying the root system
until the vine dies. Phylloxera is certainly no stranger to Australia. In the 1870s it
spread from Europe to many local vine areas leading to the introduction of strictly enforced
quarantine legislation. At present phylloxera is contained within the designated quarantine
areas called phylloxera infested zones, which are located in north eastern and southern
Victoria and south west New South Wales and the Sydney Basin. There are also two other
types of zones: phylloxera risk zones which border phylloxera infested zones, and phylloxera
exclusion zones which are known not to have phylloxera and include South Australia, Western
Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and some areas of New South Wales and Victoria.
The Federal and Victorian Governments and industry are now investing significant resources
for research into phylloxera to ensure the longevity of the Australian wine industry.
Under the Future Farming Strategy the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) recently
announced funding of $3 million over four years for a targeted program to improve biosecurity
and market access for a number of Victorias grape-growing regions that currently have
an unknown phylloxera status. This will be accompanied by a community awareness and compliance
program that will help maintain the status of phylloxera exclusion zones and prevent
the spread of phylloxera in other parts of the state. A Victorian Viticulture Biosecurity
Committee will also be established, to ensure that industry plays a key role in the management
and funding of future phylloxera and exotic grapevine pest control programs. DPIs Plant
Standards branch has been responsible for setting the boundaries for phylloxera infested
zones and enforcing the protocols.
Greg King: My role with the Department of Primary Industries Plant Standards branch
is to undertake phylloxera rezoning projects within the state, to work with legislative
and regulatory people to ensure that the phylloxera protocols are regularly updated and available
to all growers. Ive also been involved in phylloxera outbreaks as theyve occurred, organised
survey teams and ensured that all work that is required to be done for outbreak activities
are done. DPI is taking a far stronger line with compliance activities across the state
relating to phylloxera host material movement. DPI has to undertake these stronger protocols
and activities due to the number of rezoning projects that are forecast to occur in Victoria
over the next few years, and weve got to give greater evidence of biosecurity measures to
our interstate trading partners because Victoria still has active phylloxera in the state and
we have to prove that were doing everything in our power to contain the phylloxera host
material movements that occur.
Voice over: Yarra Valley and Macedon Ranges outbreaks have highlighted the need to implement
protocols on a regional level. In early 2008 a vineyard contractor was prosecuted after
a machine harvester was moved across the phylloxera zones without appropriate cleaning and permits
from DPI.
Greg King: A chap was fined $3,500 personally, $3,500 for his company and $1,000 court costs,
which sets a precedent for future court cases for these sorts of misdemeanours that occur
when people do not follow the correct phylloxera protocols.
Voice over: With the support of Grape and Wine Research Development Corporation and
the Phylloxera Board of South Australia, DPI is actively researching a number of phylloxera
management approaches, including phylloxera lifecycle, root stocks and early detection
diagnosis. Heading the phylloxera research programme in Victoria is Dr Kevin Powell,
who is renowned internationally for his work.
Dr Kevin Powell: Research is focusing on two aspects; one is root stock management and
making sure that we can come out with very strong recommendations for root stocks, particularly
when youre at risk of getting a certain phylloxera strain in the region. And the other aspect
is improving early detection. So for early detection were looking at improved ways of
targeted detection using different ways of remote sensing - thats remote soil sensing,
remote canopy sensing and also using trapping methods to detect phylloxera.
Voice over: Phylloxera is slowly spreading in Australia and can only be controlled through
the use of resistant root stock and effective quarantine measures. However with the increasing
expansion of the viticulture industry there needs to be more vigilance. This can be achieved
through the correct use of root stocks and by ensuring that quarantine protocols and
disinfestation techniques are used effectively by the vignerons. Phylloxera is the worlds
worst grapevine pest and one of the greatest threats to the Australian viticulture industry.
It is vital to the welfare of the industry that every effort is made to control it.
For more information on phylloxera, visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au/plantstandards, or contact
Dr Kevin Powell kevin.powell@dpi.vic.gov.au