Australian Grapevine Yellows

The Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture is undertaking a major project to determine the impact of Australian Grapevine Yellows (AGY). This guide provides photographs and descriptions which relate to AGY.

This work is to compile our current knowledge on GY phytoplasma biology at the genomic, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics level, as well as to summarize the approaches for their detection.Phytoplasma are the most poorly characterized plant pathogenic bacteria from the Mollicutes class. In recent years new biostatistics and bioinformatics approaches have improved our understanding of their biology and interactions with host grapevines and a great improvement has been made toward their molecular detection, both in laboratories and on-site. They have a broad range of plant hosts among the monocots and dicots, and diseases of many important crops are associated with these pathogens. At least ten taxonomically unrelated phytoplasmas, one of them a quarantine pest in Europe, have been associated with grapevine yellows diseases (GY), which have great economic impact on viticulture worldwide.

For almost 40 years, Australian researchers have been part of an international group of scientists who have studied graft-transmitted disorders of the grapevine. The Australian wine and grape industries are undergoing significant expansion as is the case in some other countries. Preventing the spread of pathogens, by producing clean propagation material, and minimising the disease load on new vines, is essential for the continuing success of the industry. This book covers the characteristics of each class of graft-transmitted pathogen, their effect on vines, how they spread and strategies for their control. Eleven of the most important diseases are illustrated and described comprehensively, including information about occurrence, symptoms, detection, transmission and effect on yield and quality. Finally there is a discussion of quarantine issues and disease management. This book will be an invaluable teaching tool and is intended for vineyard managers, grape growers, consultants, extension offers and students. While it provides a basic understanding of the nature of pathogens, it will aid in field assessment and identification of the often confusing disease symptoms.

Comprehensive coverage of important diseases affecting the broad range of fruit crops grown in Australia.

This comprehensive volume presents indispensable and up-to-date information on viroids and viroid diseases. It provides a single source of information on the properties of viroids, the economic impact of viroid diseases, and methods for their detection and control.

This book tries to examine all aspects related to phytoplasmas, their plant hosts and insect vectors. The opening chapter is followed by chapters on sequencing and functional genomics, which relies heavily on comparing phytoplasma genomics with that of other known bacteria. Three chapters take different approaches to differentiation, classification and taxonomy. The first group of chapters relates to aspects of phytoplasmas in plants. The first of these chapters examines the movement of phytoplasmas within the plant and the development of disease. Then look at the biochemical changes precipitated by the replication of the phytoplasma in plants, and finally at aspects of plant resistance. Chapters on the epidemiology of disease in grasses and grapevines delve into the disease process in plants. The last of the plant-related chapters examines epidemiological systems with multiple host plants. It starts with a chapter describing general aspects of insect vectors and their control, followed by an in-depth examination of the psyllid vectors and their control. It concludes with an examination of the distribution and potential spread of phytoplasma diseases and vectors worldwide.

Phytoplasma-associated diseases are a major limiting factor in the context of the quality and productivity of many ornamental, horticultural and other economically important agricultural crops worldwide. Annual losses due to phytoplasma diseases vary, but under pathogen-favorable conditions they have disastrous consequences for the farming community. As there is no effective cure for these diseases, the management options focus on their exclusion, minimizing their spread by insect vectors and propagation materials and on the development of host plant resistance. This book discusses the latest information on the epidemiology and management of phytoplasma-associated diseases, providing a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of distribution, occurrence and identification of the phytoplasmas, recent diagnostics approaches, transmission, losses and geographical distribution as well as management aspects.