SmartGrape: Smart monitoring of cicada-borne grapevine disease for early detection and prevention

• Forschungsstelle: BLW
• Projektnummer: 23.114

Schlüsselwörter (Deutsch)

Schwarzholz, Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, Flavescence dorée, Blattduftstoffe, optische Fernerkundung

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

bois noir, Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, flavescence dorée,
plant volatiles, optical remote sensing

Schlüsselwörter (Französisch)

Bois noir, Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, Flavescence dorée, Volatile des plantes, télédétection optique

Schlüsselwörter (Italienisch)

Blackwood, Candidatus Phytoplasma solani, Flavescenza dorata, volatili vegetali, telerilevamento ottico

Kurzbeschreibung (Deutsch)

Bois noir (BN) ist eine durch Zikaden übertragene Rebenkrankheit, die erstmals in den 1990er Jahren in der Schweiz festgestellt wurde und heute bis zu 50 % Ertrags- und Rebenverluste in Weinbergen verursacht. Sie wird durch den Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (16SrXII-A) verursacht, der durch die Zikade Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) von Wirtspflanzen, die in der Bodenbedeckung von Weinbergen häufig vorkommen, auf Weinreben (Vitis vinifera) übertragen wird. Befallene Pflanzen können nicht kuriert werden, und durch den Klimawandel bedingte Temperaturanomalien erhöhen das Infektionsrisiko. In der Schweiz ist BN ein "reglementierter Nicht-Quarantäneorganismus", eine Einstufung für "besonders gefährliche, bereits weit verbreitete Pflanzenpathogene und -schädlinge" (BLW). Da es keine Möglichkeiten zur direkten Bekämpfung von BN gibt, sind praktische Methoden zur Früherkennung und Prävention dringend erforderlich. Das Ziel des Forschungsprojekts «SmartGrape : Smart monitoring of cicada-borne grapevine disease for early detection and prevention» ist es, ein intelligentes Paket innovativer Methoden für die unmittelbare praktische Anwendung und die kurzfristige Entwicklung zu schaffen. In den Weinbergen werden Ansätze zur Früherkennung mit Hilfe von Drohnen zur multispektralen Bildgebung und zur Erfassung von flüchtigen Pflanzenstoffen im Zusammenhang mit einer Phytoplasma-Infektion getestet. In einem transdisziplinären, ko-kreativen, schrittweisen Prozess mit Winzern und Vertretern der Deutschschweizer Weinindustrie wird im Rahmen des Forschungsprojekts ein Paket von Früherkennungs- und Präventionsmethoden entwickelt. In Gebieten, in denen die von Zikaden übertragene Quarantänekrankheit flavescence dorée (FD) noch nicht vorkommt, ist die BN-Erkennung und die Verhinderung der Ausbreitung strategisch wichtig, um die Etablierung von FD und kostspielige Massnahmen dagegen zu vermeiden.

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Bois noir (BN) is a cicada-borne grapevine disease first identified in Switzerland in the 1990s, now causing up to 50% loss of yield and vines in vineyards. It is caused by Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (16SrXII-A), transferred from host plants common in vineyard ground cover, to grapevines (Vitis vinifera), by the cicada Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). Diseased plants cannot be cured, and climate change-related temperature anomalies increase infection risk. In Switzerland, BN is a "regulated non-quarantine organism", a classification for “particularly dangerous plant pathogens and pests which are already widely distributed” (FOAG). Because there are no options for direct control of BN, practical methods for early detection and prevention are
urgently needed. Our goal is to develop a smart package of innovative methods for both immediate practical use and near-term development. In vineyards, we will test early detection approaches using drone-based multispectral imaging and sensing of plant volatiles related to Phytoplasma infection. We will develop a package of early detection and prevention methods in a transdisciplinary, co-creative, step-by-step process with winegrowers and representatives of the Swiss German Wine industry. In areas where the cicada-transmitted quarantine disease flavescence dorée (FD) is not yet present, BN detection and spread prevention will be strategically important to avoid establishment of, and costly measures against FD.

Abstract (Englisch)

Bois noir (BN) is a cicada-borne grapevine disease causing loss of vines and yield in Swiss vineyards. In Switzerland, BN is a "regulated non-quarantine organism". Because there are no options for direct control of BN, practical methods for systematic and early detection are needed to support management and prevention. Such methods will also be useful in preventing the quarantine disease flavescence dorée (FD), another cicada-borne phytoplasma disease whose emergence in BN-infected areas is threatening vineyards. The goal of the project is to develop a smart package of innovative monitoring and prevention methods using spectroscopy and sampling of plant volatiles related to BN-disease infection. In the first year, the team tested several approaches (two multispectral UAV-mounted detectors, one high-resolution field-mobile spectrometer, and options for high-throughput volatile sampling) in two vineyards near Stäfa where BN-symptomatic vines were identified, tested for disease by molecular diagnostics, and allowed to remain in vineyards. Measurements of infected vines and uninfected neighbors were taken at multiple times during the growing season, as symptoms appeared and worsened. Approaches, priorities, and initial results were discussed with winegrowers, representatives of the wine industry and the FOAG. This pilot served to optimize sampling and analysis approaches and focus on the most promising measurements in preparation to scale up data collection in the second and third year. The resulting data were used to (1) develop a generalized, automated method using a low-cost consumer drone to map and quantify BN and FD symptoms in vineyards for red varieties (pinot noir, Zweigelt); (2) identify electromagnetic wavelength ranges that could be used to distinguish BN and FD symptoms in white varieties and possibly at early stages prior to the onset of visible symptoms; and (3) identify volatile biomarkers of infection and symptom development for both early stages (prior to the development of visible symptoms) and late stages (when visible symptoms are present). We recommend the use of (1) the drone-based method for regulators and the development of methods using (2) sensitive wavelengths and (3) volatile biomarkers for early detection and management of phytoplasma disease in vineyards.