Integrated management of the vineyard ecosystem for the control of the “flavescence dorée” disease

In Portugal a specific project aims to reduce the risk of “flavescence dorée” phytoplasma (FD) propagation in vineyards in order to increase the capacity to mitigate the severe FD damages. The project is applying more efficient monitoring tools, making use of eco-friendly technologies (smart traps) for automatic detection and identification of the insect vector Scaphoideus titanus. It is also evaluating of the role that other host plants and other insects vectors living in the surrounding areas of grapevine plots have in the spread and/or prevalence of FD disease in the Minho region as infection foci or insect reservoirs. The last action is the identification and multiplication of the best regional ‘rootstock/variety’ combinations less FD-susceptible as disease barriers. It is increasingly urgent to have an integrated ecosystem management for pest control rather than the control in individual plots.