New finding of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Spain
In Spain, Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma (EPPO A2 List) was first found in Cataluña in 1997 and subsequently eradicated (EPPO RS 1997/175, RS 2020/174). Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma was detected again in December 2021 in a vineyard (Vitis vinifera) located in the municipality of Sant Martí Vell, Girona province, in the Autonomous Region of Cataluña. Several plants were symptomatic. A demarcated area of 4 km around the infected plot will be established and official eradication measures will be carried out. They include the destruction of the infected plants, intensive surveys and sampling, and insecticide treatment against the vector.
The origin of the outbreak is not known as the affected plants are 15 years old and had never previously been symptomatic, and the vineyard is quite isolated and far from the places where Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma had been detected in the past.
The pest status of Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma in Spain is officially declared as: Present, in specific parts of the Member State where host crop(s) are grown, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of the Spain (2021-12).