Situation of grapevine yellows in France
In a review on the phytosanitary situation of grapevine in France in 2002, details are given on grapevine yellows. An outbreak of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma (EPPO A2 quarantine list) in Savoie was clearly confirmed in 2001 (352 infested plots), and 36 plots were uprooted because of infection levels above 20% (corresponding to 1.9 ha). In the south-west, the outbreaks detected in 2001 in Midi-Pyrénées (near Moissac and Cahors) have developed in 2002, and older outbreaks (in Poitou-Charentes and Aquitaine) have been reduced, as in 2001. In the south-east, in Languedoc-Roussillon, a noticeable decrease was also noted, but many isolated infected plants remain and represent possible points of future development as soon as control of vectors is lightened. At the end of 2001, a new outbreak was detected in the south of the Drôme department at the border between regions Rhônes-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Surveys are not yet finished, but it seems that this occurrence was confirmed in 2002.
Grapevine bois noir phytoplasma (EPPO A2 quarantine list) occurs at low incidence in many grapevine-growing region in France (EPPO RS 2001/166). The author notes that the only curative plant protection product available against bois noir, sodium arsenite, was withdrawn from use at the end of 2001, and stress the importance of sanitation measures to ensure destruction of infected material.
Sources
Herlement, B. (2002) Bilan phytosanitaire vigne, millésime 2002. Maladies du bois et pourriture grise se font remarquer. Phytoma, no. 554, pp 12-17