Grape Phylloxera Genetic Structure Reveals Root–Leaf Migration within Commercial Vineyards

Abstract

Depending on their life cycle, grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) leaf-feeding populations are initiated through asexually produced offspring or sexual recombination. The vine’s initial foliar larvae may originate from root-feeding phylloxera or wind-drifted foliar larvae from other habitats. Though some studies have reported phylloxera leaf-feeding in commercial vineyards, it is still unclear if they are genetically distinct from the population structure of these two sources. Using seven SSR-markers, this study analyzed the genetic structure of phylloxera populations in commercial vineyards with different natural infestation scenarios and that of single-plant insect systems that exclude infestation by wind-drifted larvae. We saw that during the vegetation period, phylloxera populations predominately go through their asexual life cycle to migrate from roots to leaves. We provided evidence that such migrations do not exclusively occur through wind-drifted foliar populations from rootstock vines in abandoned thickets, but that root populations within commercial vineyards also migrate to establish V. vinifera leaf populations. Whereas the former scenario generates foliar populations with high genotypic diversity, the latter produces population bottlenecks through founder effects or phylloxera biotype selection pressure. We finally compared these population structures with those of populations in their native habitat in North America, using four microsatellite markers.

Effects of grape phylloxera leaf infestation on grapevine growth and yield parameters in commercial vineyards: a pilot study

“…The vineyard was organically managed, a trait that suppresses phylloxera root populations (Huber et al, 2003). However, the grafted vineyard was planted with scions of the fungus-resisting variety "Muscaris", a scion that was found to be more easily infested by root-feeding phylloxera that migrates from roots to leaves compared with V. vinifera scions (Wilmink et al, 2021b). Throughout the experiment, the vineyard in Bahlingen received more precipitation and, through cover crops, presumably had a higher local relative humidity than the other two vineyards that were studied in the dry growing season of 2018.…”

“…Instead of temporal and marginal foliar outbreaks, some commercial vineyards in Baden, Germany, were subjected to vineyard-wide leaf infestations perpetuated throughout the growing season. In some cases, the origin of leaf-feeding phylloxera could be identified as parthenogenic offspring of the vine's root-feeding phylloxera (Wilmink et al, 2021b).…”

Chemical Profile of “Folla Redonda” Grape; Differentiation with Traditional Winemaking Grapes

“…Towards the end of 1870, a plague of vine diseases, such as phylloxera, penetrated the Iberian Peninsula through Oporto [2]. Phylloxera is a parasitic insect of the Phylloxeridae family that infects the roots of grapevine plants, where it feeds on the plant's sap, weakening and eventually killing the roots and hindering vine growth [3,4]. This significantly affected France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, leading to the destruction of vast swathes of vineyards and a significant impact on wine production throughout these regions [5].…”