- Sugar Research Australia, Queensland
Research Interests: Biology and Phylloxera
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Earlier this year Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries principal biosciences research scientist Kevin Powell, as one of the keynote presenters and member of the scientific advisory committee, attended the 6th... more
Earlier this year Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries principal biosciences research scientist Kevin Powell, as one of the keynote presenters and member of the scientific advisory committee, attended the 6th International Phylloxera Symposium in Bordeaux, France and provided this snapshot of work being done by researchers around the world on one of the greatest threats to vineyards.
Research Interests: Sociology and Phylloxera
What is phylloxera? Grape phylloxera, Daktulsphaira vitifoliae, is a devastating pest of grapevines worldwide, affecting Vitis species (commercial grapevines and ornamental vines). Phylloxera is an insect native to eastern North America,... more
What is phylloxera? Grape phylloxera, Daktulsphaira vitifoliae, is a devastating pest of grapevines worldwide, affecting Vitis species (commercial grapevines and ornamental vines). Phylloxera is an insect native to eastern North America, first affecting native European Vitis vinifera in the late 19th century. There have been several hundred documented strains of the pest worldwide, of which Australia is known to have 83 endemic strains (Umina et al. 2007; Powell and Korosi 2014). At present, these strains are confined to parts of Victoria and New South Wales.
Research Interests: History and Phylloxera
Trade-offs between reproduction and other energy-requiring activities are present in insects. However, feeding and reproduction are not often thought to be trade-offs, although in small insects space may be limiting for both ingestion of... more
Trade-offs between reproduction and other energy-requiring activities are present in insects. However, feeding and reproduction are not often thought to be trade-offs, although in small insects space may be limiting for both ingestion of food and egg development. This study characterised the structure of the digestive system of radicicolae Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) to investigate how feeding and egg development occur in this species. Using light and electron microscopy, the midgut of D. vitifoliae was observed to be composed of anterior and posterior regions, separated by a hindgut connection. The midgut is compressed during the development of parthenogenetically produced eggs in adults; individual eggs are ~30% of the adult length and in volume internally occupy 3–5% of the body cavity. The midgut posterior chamber is suggested to be essential for the continual supply of energy during periods of reduced food intake. The presence of the hindgut and an anal...
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ABSTRACT In Australia grapevine phylloxera is currently restricted to phylloxera infested zones (PIZs) located in NSW and Victoria. Despite the relative success of quarantine protocols and boundaries phylloxera remains a threat to an... more
ABSTRACT In Australia grapevine phylloxera is currently restricted to phylloxera infested zones (PIZs) located in NSW and Victoria. Despite the relative success of quarantine protocols and boundaries phylloxera remains a threat to an industry that is predominantly planted on susceptible ungrafted
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Background and Aims Frosted scale is a sap-sucking insect pest that feeds on several commercial Vitis vinifera cultivars across several wine regions of Australia. The ability to develop and the impact of its feeding activity on grapevines... more
Background and Aims Frosted scale is a sap-sucking insect pest that feeds on several commercial Vitis vinifera cultivars across several wine regions of Australia. The ability to develop and the impact of its feeding activity on grapevines have not been documented. We have closed this knowledge gap through a study that examined the development and feeding effect of frosted scale on Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. Methods and Results A replicated glasshouse experiment was established by allocating the potted rootlings of the three cultivars into two treatment regimes, control (uninfested) and treated (infested with frosted scale) grapevines in the summer months between November 2011 and March 2012. Frosted scale population was relatively high on Riesling, moderate on Pinot Noir and least on Sauvignon Blanc. The presence of frosted scale significantly reduced leaf chlorophyll concentration and the number of internodes per vine. An increasing number of scales did not significantly affect the chlorophyll concentration in any cultivar. An increasing number of scales did significantly decrease the number of internodes per vine. The proportion of dropped leaves in all cultivars exposed to frosted scale was higher than that of control plants. Riesling dropped more leaves than Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc. Conclusions An increase in first and second instar populations of frosted scale feeding mainly on grapevine leaves was observed. This feeding may reduce leaf chlorophyll and the number of internodes per vine. Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc were all susceptible to frosted scale feeding under glasshouse conditions, but individual cultivar performance varied. Significance of the Study Grapegrowers could expect frosted scale population and loss of vine vigour to increase on highly susceptible cultivars, such as Riesling. Further studies regarding cultivar differences in response to frosted scale feeding are necessary to clarify these results.
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ABSTRACT Background and Aims: Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), is a significant insect pest of grapevines and can cause mild to severe economic damage to ungrafted European grapevine, Vitis vinifera L., depending on... more
ABSTRACT Background and Aims: Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), is a significant insect pest of grapevines and can cause mild to severe economic damage to ungrafted European grapevine, Vitis vinifera L., depending on the insect clonal type. Dry heat treatment is currently recommended as a disinfestation method to restrict the spread of phylloxera to uninfested vineyards on viticultural machinery.Methods and Results: G1 and G4 first instar grape phylloxera clones were subjected to two relative humidity (30 and 100%) and four temperature (30, 35, 40 and 45°C) treatment combinations to find the optimal temperature–humidity combination to achieve 100% phylloxera mortality over the shortest time period.Conclusions: One hundred per cent mortality of two phylloxera clonal strains was achieved at 45°C for 75 min at 30% relative humidity. Some differences in clonal susceptibility to temperature and humidity treatments were observed.Significance of the Study: A novel screening method was developed, which validated the nationally recognised dry heat disinfestation protocol for grape phylloxera. The study also highlighted that different clonal lineages of phylloxera are influenced by both temperature and humidity.
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Sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma (white leaf disease) in sugarcane crops is caused by a phytoplasma transmitted by leafhopper vectors. White leaf disease (WLD) occurs predominantly in some Asian countries and is a devastating global... more
Sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma (white leaf disease) in sugarcane crops is caused by a phytoplasma transmitted by leafhopper vectors. White leaf disease (WLD) occurs predominantly in some Asian countries and is a devastating global threat to sugarcane industries, especially Sri Lanka. Therefore, a feasible and an effective approach to precisely monitoring WLD infection is important, especially at the early pre-visual stage. This work presents the first approach on the preliminary detection of sugarcane WLD by using high-resolution multispectral sensors mounted on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and supervised machine learning classifiers. The detection pipeline discussed in this paper was validated in a sugarcane field located in Gal-Oya Plantation, Hingurana, Sri Lanka. The pixelwise segmented samples were classified as ground, shadow, healthy plant, early symptom, and severe symptom. Four ML algorithms, namely XGBoost (XGB), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and K-nea...
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Research Interests: History and Phylloxera
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This letter describes how PROSPECT, updated with a 1 nm chlorophyll absorbance database, was used to infer total chlorophyll content from the measured reflectance spectra of grapevine leaves. Modelled and measured reflectance spectra... more
This letter describes how PROSPECT, updated with a 1 nm chlorophyll absorbance database, was used to infer total chlorophyll content from the measured reflectance spectra of grapevine leaves. Modelled and measured reflectance spectra agreed on average to within 13% over the range 400–1600 nm. However, discrepancies between modelled and measured reflectances of up to 40% were observed in the spectral region dominated
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Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, is an important pest of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) (Vitaceae). The distribution and frequency of phylloxera clone lineages vary within infested regions of Australia, suggesting the... more
Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, is an important pest of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) (Vitaceae). The distribution and frequency of phylloxera clone lineages vary within infested regions of Australia, suggesting the introduction of separate lineages of D. vitifoliae with host associations. Virulence levels of particular phylloxera clones may vary on V. vinifera, but much of this evidence is indirect. In this study, we directly tested the performance of phylloxera clones on V. vinifera using an established excised root assay and a new glasshouse vine assessment. In the root assay, grape phylloxera clones differed in egg production and egg to adult survivorship. In the vine assay, clones differed in the number of immature and adult life stages on roots. In addition vine characteristics, including mean stem weight, root weight, leaf chlorophyll and leaf area, were affected by different phylloxera clones. The two most widespread clones displayed high levels of virule...
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Canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are major pests of sugarcane crops in Australia, but despite long-term and intensive research, no commercially viable biological control agents have been identified. We used the RNA-Seq approach to... more
Canegrubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are major pests of sugarcane crops in Australia, but despite long-term and intensive research, no commercially viable biological control agents have been identified. We used the RNA-Seq approach to explore the viriomes of three different species of canegrubs from central Queensland, Australia to identify potential candidates for biological control. We identified six novel RNA viruses, characterized their genomes, and inferred their evolutionary relationships with other closely related viruses. These novel viruses showed similarity to other known members from picornaviruses, benyviruses, sobemoviruses, totiviruses, and reoviruses. The abundance of viral reads varied in these libraries; for example, Dermolepida albohirtum picorna-like virus (9696 nt) was built from 83,894 assembled reads while only 1350 reads mapped to Lepidiota negatoria beny-like virus (6371 nt). Future studies are essential to determine their natural incidence in different life ...
Research Interests: Biology, Biodiversity, Medicine, Virus, Viruses, and 3 moreGenome, Scarabaeidae, and Biological Pest Control
Powell, K.S. & Yen, A.L. (2017) Temperate western Victorian grassland insects: the interactions between native and exotic insects and plants. In Invertebrate Ecology of Australasian Grasslands. Proceedings of the Ninth ACGIE (ed S.N.... more
Powell, K.S. & Yen, A.L. (2017) Temperate western Victorian grassland insects: the interactions between native and exotic insects and plants. In Invertebrate Ecology of Australasian Grasslands. Proceedings of the Ninth ACGIE (ed S.N. Johnson), pp. 18-21. Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia.
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Powell, K.S. (2017) Improving the management of red headed cockchafer in ryegrass pastures through improved surveillance techniques. In Invertebrate Ecology of Australasian Grasslands. Proceedings of the Ninth ACGIE (ed S.N. Johnson), pp.... more
Powell, K.S. (2017) Improving the management of red headed cockchafer in ryegrass pastures through improved surveillance techniques. In Invertebrate Ecology of Australasian Grasslands. Proceedings of the Ninth ACGIE (ed S.N. Johnson), pp. 86-89. Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury, NSW, Australia.
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Page 42. Chapter 3 Insecticidal Properties of Plant Lectins: Their Potential in Plant Protection Angharad MR Gatehouse, Kevin S. Powell, Willy J. Peumans, Els JM Van Damme and John A. Gatehouse Role of lectins in plant ...
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Researchers have developed a novel remote sensing system using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to maximise the accuracy and efficiency of monitoring efforts for detecting grape phylloxera pest infestations in vineyards.
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... Proc. 5th International Phylloxera Symposium Eds.: M. Griesser and A. Forneck Acta Hort. 904, ISHS 2011 Page 2. 54 ... helleri '7651') and Merbein 6262 (V. cinerea 'Barrett 58' × V.... more
... Proc. 5th International Phylloxera Symposium Eds.: M. Griesser and A. Forneck Acta Hort. 904, ISHS 2011 Page 2. 54 ... helleri '7651') and Merbein 6262 (V. cinerea 'Barrett 58' × V. cinerea 'Barrett 194-1') from the CSIRO rootstock breeding program (Jones et al., 2009). ...
Research Interests: Horticulture, Biology, Viticulture, Hybrid, Phylloxera, and 3 moreRootstock, V, and Horticultural production
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ABSTRACT Radicolae grape phylloxera feed on the roots of grapevines and the first instar life-stage can be found during the spring and summer above-ground on the soil surface or in the grapevine canopy and on ripening fruit. Therefore... more
ABSTRACT Radicolae grape phylloxera feed on the roots of grapevines and the first instar life-stage can be found during the spring and summer above-ground on the soil surface or in the grapevine canopy and on ripening fruit. Therefore there is a significant risk of phylloxera transfer, if infested machinery or grape products are not effectively disinfested prior to removal from an infested vineyard. In Australia 80% of vineyards are planted on non-resistant ungrafted Vitis vinifera L., hence the introduction of the pest into these vineyards could have economic consequences for the industry. To protect uninfested regions quarantine restrictions exist for the movement of machinery and winery waste from phylloxera-infested regions. Temperature and humidity is known to be one of the factors, which can impact on phylloxera survival and development. In order to validate the effectiveness of quarantine protocols for heat treatment of machinery and winery waste products (grape pomace or marc) trials were conducted under controlled laboratory, and commercial winery, conditions. Preliminary data on survival of phylloxera under these conditions are described.
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ABSTRACT Feeding by the radicicolae form of grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) leads to gall development and root decay on Vitis vinifera and may cause economic damage for the vineyard. This damage is managed by planting V.... more
ABSTRACT Feeding by the radicicolae form of grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) leads to gall development and root decay on Vitis vinifera and may cause economic damage for the vineyard. This damage is managed by planting V. vinifera grafted to resistant rootstocks. The processes of grape phylloxera feeding and the mechanisms of rootstock resistance can be investigated with the application of the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique. EPG technology has been applied to investigate the feeding behaviour of aphids for over 40 years, but has not previously been reported on grape phylloxera. Deterrents for the application of EPG technology to grape phylloxera included the relative small size of the insect, the root-feeding habit and a lack of correlation studies involving non-vascular feeding insects. Here we report that EPG has successfully been applied to study the feeding behaviour of radicicolae grape phylloxera. EPG recordings have been obtained from both excised root and tissue culture plant recording systems, and from first instar to adult life stages of the insect. Feeding patterns have been recorded for up to eight hours and a number of EPG waveforms have been identified. To determine signature-feeding waveforms, initial studies involved recording insects in an active feeding position. In order to establish an understanding of the complete feeding behaviour of grape phylloxera (including stylet penetration and pathway to ingestion), insects in the probe initiation position were disrupted from feeding and relocated onto a new food source. Disturbed insects successfully re-established feeding.
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Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are predicted to double by the end of this century. Although the effects of CO2 fertilisation in crop systems have been well studied, little is known about the specific interactions among plants, pests and... more
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations are predicted to double by the end of this century. Although the effects of CO2 fertilisation in crop systems have been well studied, little is known about the specific interactions among plants, pests and pathogens under a changing climate. This growth chamber study focuses on the interactions among Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV), its aphid vector (Rhopalosiphum padi) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yitpi) under ambient (aCO2; 400µmolmol–1) or elevated (eCO2; 650µmolmol–1) CO2 concentrations. eCO2 increased the tiller number and biomass of uninoculated plants and advanced the yellowing symptoms of infected plants. Total foliar C content (percentage of the total DW) increased with eCO2 and with sham inoculation (exposed to early herbivory), whereas total N content decreased with eCO2. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry approaches were used to quantify the products of primary plant metabolism. eCO2 significantly increased sugars (fructose, ma...
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Surveillance strategies are often standardized and completed on grid patterns to detect pest incursions quickly; however, it may be possible to improve surveillance through more targeted surveillance that accounts for landscape... more
Surveillance strategies are often standardized and completed on grid patterns to detect pest incursions quickly; however, it may be possible to improve surveillance through more targeted surveillance that accounts for landscape heterogeneity, dispersal and the habitat requirements of the invading organism. We simulated pest spread at a local-scale, using grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch)) as a case study, and assessed the influence of incorporating spatial heterogeneity into surveillance strategies compared to current, standard surveillance strategies. Time to detection, spread within and spread beyond the vineyard were reduced by conducting surveys that target sampling effort in soil that is highly suitable to the invading pest in comparison to standard surveillance strategies. However, these outcomes were dependent on the virulence level of phylloxera as phylloxera is a complex pest with multiple genotypes that influence spread and detectability. Targeting survei...
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Recent advances in remote sensed imagery and geospatial image processing using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have enabled the rapid and ongoing development of monitoring tools for crop management and the detection/surveillance of insect... more
Recent advances in remote sensed imagery and geospatial image processing using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have enabled the rapid and ongoing development of monitoring tools for crop management and the detection/surveillance of insect pests. This paper describes a (UAV) remote sensing-based methodology to increase the efficiency of existing surveillance practices (human inspectors and insect traps) for detecting pest infestations (e.g., grape phylloxera in vineyards). The methodology uses a UAV integrated with advanced digital hyperspectral, multispectral, and RGB sensors. We implemented the methodology for the development of a predictive model for phylloxera detection. In this method, we explore the combination of airborne RGB, multispectral, and hyperspectral imagery with ground-based data at two separate time periods and under different levels of phylloxera infestation. We describe the technology used-the sensors, the UAV, and the flight operations-the processing workflow of ...
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Piercing-sucking insects are vectors of plant pathogens, and an understanding of their feeding behaviour is crucial for studies on insect population dynamics and pathogen spread. This study examines probing behaviour of the eggplant... more
Piercing-sucking insects are vectors of plant pathogens, and an understanding of their feeding behaviour is crucial for studies on insect population dynamics and pathogen spread. This study examines probing behaviour of the eggplant psyllid, Acizzia solanicola (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique, on two widespread and common hosts: eggplant (Solanum melongena) and tobacco bush (S. mauritianum). Six EPG waveforms were observed: waveform NP (non-probing phase), waveform C (pathway phase), G (feeding activities in xylem tissues), D (first contact with phloem tissues), E1 (salivation in the sieve elements) and E2 (ingestion from phloem tissues). Results showed that A. solanicola is predominantly a phloem feeder and time spent in salivation and ingestion phases (E1 and E2) differed between hosts. Feeding was enhanced on eggplant compared to tobacco bush which showed some degree of resistance, as evidenced by shorter periods of phloem ingestion, ...
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The major insect pest of Australian cool temperate pastures is the root-feeding insect Heteronychus arator (African black beetle, ABB). Significant pasture damage can occur even at low ABB densities (11 individuals per square meter), and... more
The major insect pest of Australian cool temperate pastures is the root-feeding insect Heteronychus arator (African black beetle, ABB). Significant pasture damage can occur even at low ABB densities (11 individuals per square meter), and often re-sowing of the whole paddock is required. Mitigation of the effects of pasture pests, and in particular subterranean species such as the larval form of ABB, can be challenging. Early detection is limited by the ability to visualize above-ground symptoms, and chemical control of insects in soil is often ineffective. This review takes a look at the historical events that molded the pastoral landscape in Australia. The importation route, changes in land management and pasture composition by European settlers may have aided the establishment of ABB in Australia. Perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne is discussed as it is one of the most important perennial agricultural grasses and is widely-sown in moderate-to-high-rainfall temperate zones of the wo...
Plant antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione play an important role in regulating potentially harmful reactive oxygen species produced in response to virus infection. Barley yellow dwarf virus is a widespread viral pathogen that... more
Plant antioxidants ascorbate and glutathione play an important role in regulating potentially harmful reactive oxygen species produced in response to virus infection. Barley yellow dwarf virus is a widespread viral pathogen that systemically infects cereal crops including wheat, barley and oats. In addition, rising atmospheric CO2 will alter plant growth and metabolism, including many potential but not well understood effects on plant-virus interactions. In order to better understand the wheat-BYDV interaction and any potential changes under elevated CO2, the total concentration and oxidised fraction of ascorbate and glutathione was measured in leaves of a susceptible wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L. 'Yitpi') infected with Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (Padi Avenae virus) and grown under elevated CO2 in controlled environment chambers. Virus infection decreased total leaf ascorbate and glutathione concentrations and increased the fraction of oxidised ascorbate (dehydroascorbate). Elevated CO2 decreased the fraction of oxidised ascorbate. In this work, we demonstrate that systemic infection by a phloem-restricted virus weakens the antioxidant pools of ascorbate and glutathione. In addition, elevated CO2 may decrease oxidative stress, for example, from virus infection, but there was no direct evidence for an interactive effect between treatments.
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Page 115. 6 Grape Phylloxera: An Overview KEVIN S. POWELL Department of Primary Industries, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia 6.1. Introduction Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphairavitifoliae (Fitch)(Hemiptera: Sternorrhynchae ...
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ABSTRACT The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an important insect vector of the xylem-limited plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. that causes diseases in numerous plant... more
ABSTRACT The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an important insect vector of the xylem-limited plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. that causes diseases in numerous plant species including food and feedstock crops, ornamentals and weeds. Both the pathogen and the vector are native to the Americas, and H. vitripennis has demonstrated high invasive ability but to date neither has been detected in Australia. The Australian wine grape, table grape, peach, plum, nectarine and citrus industries are particularly concerned about the arrival of X. fastidiosa and H. vitripennis because of the potential economic impact on these important commodities. Other commodity producers in Australia should also be concerned about this vector-pathogen, in particular the ornamental plant, avocado and olive industries. Past interceptions of H. vitripennis and the potential for X. fastidiosa to be moved in live plant material or within live vectors indicate the need for rapid detection of an incursion in areas considered at high risk. This requires identification of regions that have climatic and environmental conditions conducive to X. fastidiosa and H. vitripennis establishment as well as a detailed knowledge of their respective potential host plant ranges in new areas. These climatic regions and host plant species can then be targeted for monitoring in order to detect an incursion at an early stage. CLIMEX modelling has shown that much of coastal Australia has temperatures suitable for survival of both the vector and pathogen. A range of other requirements in addition to suitable climate must, however, be satisfied for an incursion to lead to establishment, proliferation and spread. This review article provides information that shows that the Australian environment is suitable for the establishment of H. vitripennis and that Australian native plant species are likely to serve as X. fastidiosa hosts and subsequent pathogen sources, and highlights future research directions.
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ABSTRACT Despite increasing knowledge of the predicted impacts of climate change, potential threats from pests and diseases to agriculture remain uncertain. In this study, we developed models to understand better the likely responses of... more
ABSTRACT Despite increasing knowledge of the predicted impacts of climate change, potential threats from pests and diseases to agriculture remain uncertain. In this study, we developed models to understand better the likely responses of pest and disease threats to the changing Australian climate. By coupling host-plant physiology, virus and vector population growth and climatic data with projected climate change scenarios, we are able to project individual species responses and shifts to historic geographic ranges. Strengthened by empirical data, these models can be incorporated into plant biosecurity management and contingency planning, forming the basis of integrated scenario-based decision support systems for emergency plant pest management. Current work focuses on developing an innovative spatial modelling environment using the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) which vectors barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). The effect of climate change on aphid feeding behaviour, flight time and synchrony with the crop, virus acquisition and transmission rates, wheat phenology changes and physiological responses are being incorporated. Experiments in the Australian Grains Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment research facility have enabled field based investigations of the effects of elevated (e)CO2 on wheat pathosystems. Wheat stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) and crown rot (Fusarium pseudograminearum) severity, latent period, fecundity and host resistance were assessed under ambient and 550ppm CO2. This paper presents preliminary results from eCO2 and wheat disease studies and describes the approach used to construct a model to project the effects of climate change on the future yields of wheat infected with BYDV.
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Transgenic rice plants expressing snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) were screened for resistance to green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens; GLH), a major homopteran pest of rice. Survival was reduced by 29% and 53%... more
Transgenic rice plants expressing snowdrop lectin (Galanthus nivalis agglutinin; GNA) were screened for resistance to green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens; GLH), a major homopteran pest of rice. Survival was reduced by 29% and 53% (P<0.05) respectively, on plants where GNA expression was tissue-specific (phloem and epidermal layer) or constitutive. Similar levels of resistance in GNA-expressing transgenic rice were previously reported for rice brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens; BPH). GNA binding to glycoproteins in gut tissues showed that BPH contained more "receptors" than GLH, and that the binding affinity was stronger, particularly in the midgut. Subsequent toxicity of GNA is thus unlikely to be directly related to the amount of lectin bound. GNA was not detected in the honeydew of either insect species when they were fed on GNA-expressing plants, in contrast to results from artificial diet studies. This result suggests that GNA is not being delivered to the insect efficiently. When offered a free choice vs control plants, BPH nymphs tended to avoid plants expressing GNA; avoidance was less pronounced and took longer to develop on plants where GNA expression was tissue-specific, In contrast to BPH, GLH nymphs were attracted to plants expressing GNA, whether constitutively or in a tissue-specific manner.
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Información del artículo Grape phyloxera: new investigations into the biology of an old grapevine pest.
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ABSTRACT Export Date: 28 January 2014, Source: Scopus
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ABSTRACT The woolly apple aphid (WAA), Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann, is a worldwide pest of apple orchards that has become widespread in apple-growing regions of Australia. Several WAA populations that are geographically distant may have... more
ABSTRACT The woolly apple aphid (WAA), Eriosoma lanigerum Hausmann, is a worldwide pest of apple orchards that has become widespread in apple-growing regions of Australia. Several WAA populations that are geographically distant may have evolved into biotypes having different fitness (e.g. fecundity) in similar biotic and abiotic conditions. In this study, we investigated the performance of four different lines of WAA (designated as ALB, STA, BAT and YAR) originating from four locations in Victoria and New South Wales (Australia). Nymph establishment, nymph development to adult, nymph developmental time, female fecundity and adult weight of apterous virginoparae on apple trees (cv Granny Smith) were monitored under glasshouse conditions. Results showed that at least three lines examined here differ significantly in one or more performance parameters. Nymphs of the STA lineage showed a significantly higher establishment success after 7 days (64.3%) compared with lines BAT (53.1%) and YAR (43.6%). Nymph development to adulthood followed a similar trend. The average fecundity/female/7 days of the ALB lineage (19.7 ± 1.6 nymphs) was the lowest and significantly reduced relative to all other lines (from 36.6 to 40.5 nymphs). These results demonstrate the existence of at least three different biotypes in Australia. Antibiosis and antixenosis, respectively, could explain lower aphid establishment and lower female fecundity once settled. The characterisation of different WAA biotypes could have important implications for WAA management, and further studies should evaluate the overall diversity of biotypes, their geographical distribution and their growth characteristics to fully optimise pest control strategies.
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Robyn van Heeswijck 1, 3, Andre Bondar 1, Lucy Croser 1, Tricia Franks 1, 3, Alison Kellow 1, 3 and Kevin Powell 2, 3 1 Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, Adelaide University, Waite Campus, PMB 1 Glen Osmond SA 5064,... more
Robyn van Heeswijck 1, 3, Andre Bondar 1, Lucy Croser 1, Tricia Franks 1, 3, Alison Kellow 1, 3 and Kevin Powell 2, 3 1 Department of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, Adelaide University, Waite Campus, PMB 1 Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia. 2 Department of ...
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... Industries, Private Bag 1,Tatura,Victoria 3616, Australia 3 Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research La Trobe University, Bundoora,Victoria 3083, Australia 4 Corresponding author: Dr Kevin S. Powell, facsimile +61 2... more
... Industries, Private Bag 1,Tatura,Victoria 3616, Australia 3 Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research La Trobe University, Bundoora,Victoria 3083, Australia 4 Corresponding author: Dr Kevin S. Powell, facsimile +61 2 6030 4600, email kevin.powell@nre.vic ...
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Research Interests: Landscape Ecology, Conservation Biology, Biology, Ecology, Agriculture, and 12 morePapua New Guinea, Seasonality, Environmental Sciences, Weevils, Soil Fertility, Nematodes, Camote Ipomoea Batatas, Sweet Potato, Soil Properties, Soil Chemical Properties, Soil Bulk Density, and Nutrient Concentration
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Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has increased significantly and is projected to double by 2100. To increase current food production levels, understanding how pests and diseases respond to future climate driven by increasing... more
Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has increased significantly and is projected to double by 2100. To increase current food production levels, understanding how pests and diseases respond to future climate driven by increasing CO2 is imperative. We investigated the effects of elevated CO2 (eCO2) on the interactions among wheat (cv. Yitpi), Barley yellow dwarf virus and an important pest and virus vector, the bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), by examining aphid life history, feeding behavior and plant physiology and biochemistry. Our results showed for the first time that virus infection can mediate effects of eCO2 on plants and pathogen vectors. Changes in plant N concentration influenced aphid life history and behavior, and N concentration was affected by virus infection under eCO2. We observed a reduction in aphid population size and increased feeding damage on noninfected plants under eCO2 but no changes to population and feeding on virus-infected plants irr...
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ABSTRACT The redheaded pasture cockchafer, Adoryphorus couloni (Burmeister) (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) is a pest of semi-improved and improved pastures in south-eastern Australia. It is a native species that has adapted to... more
ABSTRACT The redheaded pasture cockchafer, Adoryphorus couloni (Burmeister) (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini) is a pest of semi-improved and improved pastures in south-eastern Australia. It is a native species that has adapted to managed pastures, and despite many years of research in attempts to control it, this species still causes major economic damage, especially to perennial dairy pastures in south-eastern Australia. This is a review of available information on A. couloni and identifies some basic information gaps that require addressing: correct identification of the main pasture beetles, more accurate detection and monitoring methods, and better information on its biology and ecology, especially its feeding behaviour in soil.
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... Correspondence: *Correspondence: Kevin S. Powell, Department of Primary Industries, Biosciences Research Division, RMB 1145, Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen, Victoria, 3685, Australia. E-mail: Kevin.powell@dpi.vic.gov.au. Publication... more
... Correspondence: *Correspondence: Kevin S. Powell, Department of Primary Industries, Biosciences Research Division, RMB 1145, Chiltern Valley Road, Rutherglen, Victoria, 3685, Australia. E-mail: Kevin.powell@dpi.vic.gov.au. Publication History. ...
Research Interests: Zoology, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Virus, Method, Bioassay, and 9 moreVECTOR, PEST, Nymphs, Gramineae, Oviposition, lectin GNA WGA cowpea trypsin inhibitor bioassay Orosius orientalis vector oviposition Homoptera Cicadellidae insect biology, Ecological Applications, Artificial Diet, and Agglutinins
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Crops resistant to insect attack offer a different strategy of pest control to indiscriminate pesticide usage, which has undesirable effects on both the environment and humans. Transgenic plant technology can be a useful tool in producing... more
Crops resistant to insect attack offer a different strategy of pest control to indiscriminate pesticide usage, which has undesirable effects on both the environment and humans. Transgenic plant technology can be a useful tool in producing resistant crops, by introducing entirely novel resistance genes into a plant species. Although most work in this area has focused on the use of genes encoding insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis delta -endotoxins in transgenic plants, an alternative approach is to use plant genes which encode proteins with insecticidal properties. Protease inhibitors are involved in endogenous plant defence against insects. Over-expression of several inhibitors from constitutive promoters has been shown to afford protection in transgenic tobacco plants against attack by lepidopteran larvae. However, the degree of protection is not sufficiently high, and shows species- and inhibitor-specific effects. By assaying the interactions of protease inhibitors with insect gut proteases in vitro, the most effective inhibitor can be selected for a particular insect species. Data from bioassays of insects using artificial diets, and with transgenic plants, suggest that the in vitro assay of relative inhibitor effectiveness is consistent with the effects of different inhibitors on insect development and survival in vivo. Development of this techniology is considered. A different approach must be taken with sucking insect pests, as they do not rely on proteolysis for nutrition, and as Bt toxins effective against homopterans have not been reported to date. Bioassay in artificial diet was used to identify plant proteins with insecticidal effects on the rice brown planthopper (a model homopteran). The lectin from snowdrop (GNA) was found to be the most effective of the proteins tested. GNA was shown to be present in the phloem sap of a transgenic tobacco plant transformed with a chimeric gene construct, containing the rice sucrose synthase-1 gene promoter and the GNA coding sequence, by immunoassay of honeydew produced by aphids feeding on it. GNA is also insecticidal to the aphid Myzus persicae, which will feed on tobacco, and thus a bioassay of transgenic tobacco, to `prove' the technology, can be carried out. The effects of combining different resistance genes in the same transgenic plant to improve the effectiveness of protection are discussed, and exemplified.
Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Tobacco, Gene expression, Lepidoptera, Genetic Engineering, and 15 moreBiological Sciences, Bacillus thuringiensis, Insect Resistance, Genetic transformation, Pest control, Plant Defence, PEST, Myzus persicae, Philosophical, Insect pests, Sucrose Synthase, Plant species, Artificial Diet, Transgenic plant, and Aphid
... Localización: Australian and New Zealand grapegrower and winemaker, ISSN 0727-3606, Nº 521, 2007 , pags. 30-33. © 2001-2010 Universidad de La Rioja · Todos los derechos reservados. XHTML 1.0; UTF‑8.
Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera Phylloxeridae) is a damaging pest of grapevines (Vitis spp.) around the world, and the management of this pest requires early detection of infestations. Here, we describe the... more
Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera Phylloxeridae) is a damaging pest of grapevines (Vitis spp.) around the world, and the management of this pest requires early detection of infestations. Here, we describe the development and validation of a sensitive DNA test for grape phylloxera that can be applied to soil. Species-specific primers were developed for grape phylloxera in the internal transcribed space region 2, and their specificity was confirmed after thorough screening by using a wide range of vineyard organisms and aphid genera. Preliminary testing of the detection limits of the grape phylloxera-specific primers was conducted using field-sourced soil types spiked with a known number of grape phylloxera. The assay was converted to a real-time polymerase chain reaction format (TaqMan MGB). This assay, in combination with DNA extraction from soil, can detect phylloxera crawlers added to soil. The assay was evaluated in the field at a recently detected grape phylloxera infestation site from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia. The DNA assay proved to be substantially more sensitive than a standard ground survey for detecting grape phylloxera presence on vine roots in the infested vineyard. Moreover, unlike the ground survey, the assay provided quantitative information on grape phylloxera infestations, because grape phylloxera DNA concentrations in samples from vines closely matched the numbers of grape phylloxera crawlers collected with emergence traps placed at the base of vines. Unlike other detection techniques, the method can be applied at any time of the year, and it can be potentially modified to provide specific information on the virulence levels of the particular grape phylloxera genotypes responsible for any new infestations.
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A field study was conducted, over three grapevine growing seasons, to assess the effect of composted green waste on the population dynamics and risk of dispersal of root-feeding grapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae on ungrafted... more
A field study was conducted, over three grapevine growing seasons, to assess the effect of composted green waste on the population dynamics and risk of dispersal of root-feeding grapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae on ungrafted Vitis vinifera grapevines. An assessment was also made to determine the effect of compost application on grapevine vigour, grape yield and quality. Phylloxera crawler (first instar)
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Abstract: The invention relates to the use for control of Homopteran insect pests of a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on them. According to the invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising a gene coding for... more
Abstract: The invention relates to the use for control of Homopteran insect pests of a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on them. According to the invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising a gene coding for a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic ...
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... on the plant compounds and a shift in the xanthophyll cycle toward photoinhibition occurs to ... with TPhyll, suggesting that this variable is potentially the most likely indicator for phylloxera ... Monitoring grape phylloxera... more
... on the plant compounds and a shift in the xanthophyll cycle toward photoinhibition occurs to ... with TPhyll, suggesting that this variable is potentially the most likely indicator for phylloxera ... Monitoring grape phylloxera populations using simple non-destructive trapping systems. ...
Research Interests: Protein Folding, Gene expression, Sequence Analysis, Escherichia coli, Animals, and 15 moreInsects, Lectins, Plant Lectins, European, Molecular cloning, Larva, Rabbits, Amino Acid Sequence, Recombinant Proteins, Protein Binding, Mannose, Hemagglutination, Biochemistry and cell biology, Molecular Sequence Data, and Monosaccharides
Abstract: The invention relates to the use for control of Homopteran insect pests of a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on them. According to the invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising a gene coding for... more
Abstract: The invention relates to the use for control of Homopteran insect pests of a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic effects on them. According to the invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising a gene coding for a protein which has toxic or antimetabolic ...
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Page 1. Approaches to insect resistance using transgenic plants ANGHARAD MR GATEHOUSE1, YING SHI1, KEVIN S. POWELL1, CLAIRE BROUGI1, VAUGHAN A. HILDER2, WILLIAM D. 0. HAMILTON2, CHRISTINE A. NEWELL2 ...
Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Tobacco, Gene expression, Lepidoptera, Genetic Engineering, and 15 moreBiological Sciences, Bacillus thuringiensis, Insect Resistance, Genetic transformation, Pest control, Plant Defence, PEST, Myzus persicae, Philosophical, Insect pests, Sucrose Synthase, Plant species, Artificial Diet, Transgenic plant, and Aphid
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To examine seasonal changes in the abundance of grape phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), several sampling methods were tested at vineyards in Victoria, Australia. At a recently infested site, changes detected by root... more
To examine seasonal changes in the abundance of grape phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch), several sampling methods were tested at vineyards in Victoria, Australia. At a recently infested site, changes detected by root assessment, trunk trapping, and emergence trapping were closely correlated, although the largest numbers of grape phylloxera were obtained using traps that collected phylloxera emerging from soil. This trapping technique was further used to investigate changes in grape phylloxera numbers across three different sites from southeastern Australia as well as in three consecutive seasons at the same vineyard. Grape phylloxera numbers decreased as vines deteriorated; a single peak of emergence occurred in every summer. Size and timing of emergence peaks varied between sites and also between vine blocks within a site. The number of grape phylloxera trapped was correlated with degree-days. Monitoring soil temperature may provide a way of timing control options against grape phylloxera and a way of identifying peak periods when phylloxera detection surveys should be completed or when grape phylloxera are at the highest risk of spreading among vineyards.
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Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera Phylloxeridae) is a damaging pest of grapevines (Vitis spp.) around the world, and the management of this pest requires early detection of infestations. Here, we describe the... more
Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera Phylloxeridae) is a damaging pest of grapevines (Vitis spp.) around the world, and the management of this pest requires early detection of infestations. Here, we describe the development and validation of a sensitive DNA test for grape phylloxera that can be applied to soil. Species-specific primers were developed for grape phylloxera in the internal transcribed space region 2, and their specificity was confirmed after thorough screening by using a wide range of vineyard organisms and aphid genera. Preliminary testing of the detection limits of the grape phylloxera-specific primers was conducted using field-sourced soil types spiked with a known number of grape phylloxera. The assay was converted to a real-time polymerase chain reaction format (TaqMan MGB). This assay, in combination with DNA extraction from soil, can detect phylloxera crawlers added to soil. The assay was evaluated in the field at a recently detected grape phylloxera infestation site from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia. The DNA assay proved to be substantially more sensitive than a standard ground survey for detecting grape phylloxera presence on vine roots in the infested vineyard. Moreover, unlike the ground survey, the assay provided quantitative information on grape phylloxera infestations, because grape phylloxera DNA concentrations in samples from vines closely matched the numbers of grape phylloxera crawlers collected with emergence traps placed at the base of vines. Unlike other detection techniques, the method can be applied at any time of the year, and it can be potentially modified to provide specific information on the virulence levels of the particular grape phylloxera genotypes responsible for any new infestations.
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Research Interests: Zoology, Phylogeography, Pest Management, Reproduction, Control, and 22 moreInsect-Plant Interactions, Ecology, Agriculture, Biogeography, Biological Control, Gene expression, Potato, Genetic Engineering, Resistance, Domestication, Genetic transformation, Clutch Size, Transgenic plants, Entomologia, PEST, Myzus persicae, Insect, Fecundity, Nymph, Ecological Applications, Traditional Agriculture, and Aphid
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Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Fitch) is an encroaching problem for the Australian wine industry with four new outbreaks recorded in the past 5 years. Whilst quarantine- and phylloxera-resistant rootstocks are the... more
Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Fitch) is an encroaching problem for the Australian wine industry with four new outbreaks recorded in the past 5 years. Whilst quarantine- and phylloxera-resistant rootstocks are the recommended long-term management strategies, there are at present no short-term options for recently infested vineyards. In this study, an assay for assessing the impact of the systemic insecticides thiamethoxam
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... Localización: Australian and New Zealand grapegrower and winemaker, ISSN 0727-3606, Nº 521, 2007 , pags. 30-33. © 2001-2010 Universidad de La Rioja · Todos los derechos reservados. XHTML 1.0; UTF‑8.
Where documents are made available* through records in La Trobe University Research Online they may be regarded as" open access" documents; interested readers may read, download or print them, but they remain... more
Where documents are made available* through records in La Trobe University Research Online they may be regarded as" open access" documents; interested readers may read, download or print them, but they remain protected by copyright, and many are subject to ...
A field study was conducted, over three grapevine growing seasons, to assess the effect of composted green waste on the population dynamics and risk of dispersal of root-feeding grapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae on ungrafted... more
A field study was conducted, over three grapevine growing seasons, to assess the effect of composted green waste on the population dynamics and risk of dispersal of root-feeding grapevine phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae on ungrafted Vitis vinifera grapevines. An assessment was also made to determine the effect of compost application on grapevine vigour, grape yield and quality. Phylloxera crawler (first instar)