Sustainable Arthropod Management in Quebec Vineyards

Abstract

In Quebec (Canada), viticulture is practiced at the fringe of what is known as a cool climate area. Quebec has a very recent history of viticultural entomology as the first artisanal permit for wine making was issued by the Quebec Government in 1985, and the first formal research project about arthropods associated with vineyards was initiated in 1997. The Quebec viticultural industry has consistently developed over ca. 35 years and, given the prospects of global warming, warmer abiotic conditions will allow to cultivate cultivars of better oenological value. Meanwhile, some invasive species that recently arrived in Quebec are causing concerns because they are threatening the sustainability of pest management programs. In this article, we will review of the evolution of entomological research in Quebec vineyards. We will then treat technology transfer activities that allowed to translate research results into protection programs. Finally, we will discuss new and coming entomological problems that are challenging the sustainability of pest management programs in Quebec vineyards.

Yeast diversity in the vineyard: how it is defined, measured and influenced by fungicides

“…Generally, the poor fermenters Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula exist during the early stages of berry development, but as berries ripen, Hanseniaspora , Candida and Metschnikowia ascomycetes appear on the berry surface (Rosini et al 1982, Combina et al 2005, Raspor et al 2006). But farming practices including fungicide and herbicide sprays, and canopy management can have a large effect on fungal populations, and potentially mask other influences (Martins et al 2012, Bokulich et al 2014, Gilbert et al 2014, Wang et al 2015, Morrison‐Whittle et al 2017, Chou et al 2018, Mandl et al 2018, Carneiro et al 2019, Vincent and Lasnier 2020). As discussed above, rainfall and its timing may alter fungal populations, but rainfall will also impact berry physiology, itself an important determinant of fungal populations, and potentially also wash sprays from grapevines.…”

“…It is important to note that other plant protection procedures, such as herbicides and insecticides, also have the ability to affect the vineyard microbiome, either directly or indirectly. This is outside the scope of this review and the reader is referred to recent publications on this subject (Chou et al 2018, Mandl et al 2018, Carneiro et al 2019, Vincent and Lasnier 2020).…”

Biodiversity in a Cool-Climate Vineyard: A Case Study from Quebec

“…In a first phase beginning in 1997, assessment of the biodiversity of arthropods in insecticide-free plots as part of two commercial vineyards was carried out to establish baselines. Key arthropod pests and the risk they incurred was identified (see Table 2 in [59]; Table 1 in [21]). In a second phase beginning in 2004, arthropod problems were researched on an ad hoc basis, and we applied the main principles involved in Integrated Pest Management relevant to viticulture [60]: know your pests, favour natural enemies, monitor pests, and apply pesticides as a last resort.…”

“…In winter, air temperatures frequently reach −30 • C and, occasionally, −35 • C. Grape cultivars may be assigned to three categories of rusticity: rustic cultivars can withstand −25 • C to −30 • C; semi-rustic cultivars, −20 • to −24 • C; and sensitive cultivars, −17 • C to −19 • C. Rustic cultivars do not need winter protection. To protect semi-rustic and sensitive cultivars, some Quebec viticulturists hill vines with soil in late fall and unhill them in spring, or cover vines with geotextiles in the fall (see Figure 1 in [21]).…”

“…If these plant species are left unmanaged in areas adjacent to the vineyards, they may harbor arthropod pests of cultivated vines as well as beneficials. As viticulture developed in Quebec, preventive and sustainable methods to manage most arthropod pests (Table 2 in [38]; Table 1 in [21]) were increasingly needed. To that end, innovative approaches have been documented in other grape-producing areas, notably in Australasian [39] and Californian [40] vineyards.…”