On Monday night we advised the South Australian grape and wine industry via a Biosecurity Alert that another detection of phylloxera has occurred in Victoria’s Yarra Valley.
Agriculture Victoria confirmed the new detection of phylloxera in a vineyard located inside the Phylloxera Interim Buffer Zone (PIBZ) that was established in response to the phylloxera detection advised in April 2023.
The phylloxera strain associated with this new detection has been confirmed as G1; the same strain known to exist in the Maroondah PIZ.
The latest infested property was in a Phylloxera Risk Zone (PRZ) prior to the PIBZ being established April 2023.
In accordance with the National Phylloxera Management Protocol, Agriculture Victoria placed a 5km radial quarantine buffer zone around this new infested property. Given that the quarantine buffer zone enacted in April overlaps the buffer zone for this latest detection, a single large quarantine buffer zone has now been formed as a proposed boundary extension to the Maroondah Phylloxera Infested Zone (PIZ).
While this proposed boundary extension to the Maroondah PIZ awaits gazettal by Agriculture Victoria, PIRSA’s Chief Inspector Biosecurity Notice (released 22 May 2023) has confirmed that this area is recognised as a PIBZ for entry requirements into South Australia, effective immediately.
“This latest detection is yet another reminder for industry and government that phylloxera remains an active pest of concern for the viticulture industries, and that the current national management system in place for phylloxera is ineffective in curbing its spread. Despite work being initiated to review this system, progress is very slow,” said Vinehealth Australia Technical Manager Suzanne McLoughlin.
“A new national management system must incorporate current pest knowledge, contemporary biosecurity thinking and the latest science on disinfestation, surveillance and detection. These underlying principles are crucial to protecting the future sustainability of all vineyards; particularly those planted on own roots, and most vulnerable to phylloxera.”
Click here to read Monday’s Biosecurity Alert.