Biological control of root phylloxera by Metarhizium brunneum–student projects at the Winecampus Neustadt
Abstract
The potential use of Metarhizium brunneum to control root phylloxera was tested on potted vines in the green house in studentical projects at the Winecampus Neustadt. In 2023 Metarhizium was applied by inoculated barley and by suspension variant in single pot experiments on 5 BB rootstock vines artificially infested by root phylloxera. Severely reduced numbers of nodosities were found on vines of all variants treated by Metarhizium compared to the plants of the untreated control variant. The Metarhizium suspension variant was more easy to handle than the inoculum of barley.
In 2024 a co-cultivation design was established with a single vine artificially infested by root phylloxera surrounded by non-infested vines. Metarhizium was applied by dipping the non-infested vines before planting or by pouring the suspension afterwards. Again severely reduced numbers of nodosities were found on vines of all variants treated by Metarhizium compared to the plants of the untreated control variant. However, results reveal the failure of a long-lasting phytosanitary effect because young nodosities were found in all variants after three months of co-cultivation at the final evaluation, presumably due to a reinfection by root phylloxera.
Issue: International Phylloxera 2025
Type: Poster
Authors
1 State Education and Research Center of Viticulture, Horticulture and Rural Development Rheinpfalz, Institute of Plant Protection, 67435 Neustadt a.d. Weinstraße, Germany