Journal of Pest Science (2012) 85, 23-28

Nicola Mori, Francesco Pavan, Nazareno Reggiani, Mirko Bacchiavini, Luca Mazzon, Samanta Paltrinieri and Assunta Bertaccini (2012)
Correlation of bois noir disease with nettle and vector abundance in northern Italy vineyards
Journal of Pest Science 85 (1), 23-28
Abstract: The phytoplasmas associated with bois noir (BN) tuf-type a are transmitted to grapevines by means of Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret using Urtica dioica L. as the inoculum source. In the period 2003-2008, a research was carried out in six vineyards of northern Italy where a large amount of nettles in the ditches surrounding vineyards was detected. The aim was to establish the nettle control effects on the presence of H. obsoletus and new symptomatic grapevines. PCR and RFLP analyses showed the presence of the BN tuf-type a phytoplasmas in symptomatic grapevines of all vineyards and in the vector. Weed control strategies along ditches were always associated with decreases in nettle coverage and H. obsoletus numbers. A reduction in the percentage of new symptomatic grapevines occurred in all vineyards except for one vineyard where the least reduction in nettle and H. obsoletus was observed. The decrease in H. obsoletus population was significantly correlated with a decrease in nettles along ditches, and the reduction in H. obsoletus population was correlated with a decrease in incidence of new symptomatic grapevines compared with the incidence before the application of weed control measures. Nettle weeding can reduce the incidence of BN tuf-type a, but weed control costs and impacts need to be considered.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nicola Mori, Assunta Bertaccini, Francesco Pavan

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hyalesthes obsoletus	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy
	16SrXII phytoplasma group	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy
	Urtica dioica (weed)	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy