Grape phylloxera is the number one threat to grapevines in Australia.
Phylloxera (fil-ox-er-a) is a very small, yellow insect that feeds on the roots, and sometimes the leaves, of grapevines. It can also move to the soil surface and up into the canopy and the fruit.
Feeding by phylloxera can damage a susceptible grapevine’s root system to such an extent that the plant may die.
If phylloxera is detected in a vineyard, a quarantine zone is established to restrict the spread of the pest. This has implications for grape growers selling their grapes and limits the movement of other grape material and equipment used in their vineyards.
These restrictions impose extra costs on the grower in addition to the loss of production caused by the pest. So it is crucial to the industry that the impacts of phylloxera are minimised.
This is best achieved by removing unviable, infested vineyards, replanting on rootstocks resistant to phylloxera, or preventing the spread of the pest.
Preventing the spread
Victoria uses three types of management zones to protect the grape industries from phylloxera:
- Phylloxera Exclusion Zone (PEZ) are areas which are declared to be free of the pest. PEZs are used to improve biosecurity and market access for the industry and must be protected from the introduction of phylloxera.
- Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ) are areas in which phylloxera has been detected. They are established to prevent the spread of the pest from the area. A number of PIZs exist in Victoria and New South Wales.
- Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) have an undetermined phylloxera status because they have not yet been surveyed.
Under the Victorian Government’s Future Farming Strategy, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is surveying new areas within Phylloxera Risk Zones to determine their phylloxera status and potentially allow the areas to be declared as part of the Phylloxera Exclusion Zone.
Don’t put our grape industries at risk
What you can do
Victoria needs comprehensive, flexible and sensitive systems in place to accurately and efficiently monitor disease and pest situations across the state.
The whole community can help prevent the spread of phylloxera by being aware of phylloxera management zones and what they mean.
- When travelling by road, observe highway signage (photo left) and do not move any phylloxera host materials into the Phylloxera Exclusion Zone (PEZ) without appropriate certification.
- When visiting vineyards in a Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ) observe signage regarding movement around the vineyard (photo below) and do not remove any phylloxera host materials from the property.
- Report any unauthorised removal of host materials from phylloxera zones to the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
A list of phylloxera host materials is shown overleaf.
Penalties can apply if host materials are moved into a PEZ or out of a PIZ without certification.
Early detection and a rapid, planned response are the keys to effective biosecurity emergency management.
Contact the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186 if you are unsure of what you need to do.
The potential impact of phylloxera
Early stages of phylloxera infestation in a block of vines.
Later stages of infestation with an aggressive strain of phylloxera showing weakened and dying vines.
Host material of phylloxera include:
- Grapevine foliage
- Grapevine cuttings and rootlings
- Whole fresh grapes
- Grape marc and unfiltered juice
- Unfermented grape must
- Packages and equipment used in the cultivation and harvesting of grapes, including bins, buckets, vine guards, and vineyard posts (but not limited to these)
- Vehicles, machinery, clothing and footwear used in a vineyard
- Soil from vineyards
These materials may only be moved under certain circumstances with DPI approval.
For more information, call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format
(such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service
Centre on: 136 186.
Published by the Department of Primary Industries, Biosecurity Victoria Plant Standards Branch, November 2009
© The State of Victoria, 2009
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Authorised by the Victorian Government,
1 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
ISBN 978-1-74217-745-8 (print)
ISBN 978-1-74217-746-5 (online)
Disclaimer
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from yourelying on any information in this publication.
For more information about DPI visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au or call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186
