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Viticulture biosecurity

Latest information

The viticulture industries are a priority area for DPI’s plant biosecurity and this was highlighted in the Victorian Government's Future Farming Strategy (Action 6).

Victorian Viticulture Biosecurity Committee

Close up photograph of purple grapes

Under the Future Farming Strategy, the Victorian Viticulture Biosecurity Committee (VVBC) has been established to provide:

  • a biosecurity policy forum for government and the viticulture industries; and
  • leadership in the planning and management of state vine health issues.

The VVBC is a collaborative venture between DPI and key stakeholders in the viticulture industries, including the winegrape, tablegrape and dried fruit industries, plus the nursery and vine improvement sectors.

A critical factor in its success will be its ability to lead, work with and complement similar state and national initiatives and ensure the plant health needs of Victoria’s viticulture industries are well understood and considered at the state and national level.

With this role in mind, the VVBC has developed the VVBC Strategic Plan 2009-12.

Grape phylloxera

Phylloxera adults, crawlers and eggs

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifolii) is a destructive aphid pest that lives on the roots of grapevines. Phylloxera aphids feed by sucking fluids from grapevine roots, which causes a progressive decline in the vigour of infested vines.

European (Vitis vinifera) grapevines, which comprise the vast majority of Australian vineyards, have very little tolerance to phylloxera, which therefore represents a major threat to the industry.

See the grape phylloxera brochure for more information.

The Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia also provides information about phylloxera.

High risk materials

Grapevines infested with phylloxera

Phylloxera is most commonly spread through transportation of materials such as:

  • grapevines, including cuttings and rootlings
  • whole grapes
  • grape marc and must
  • sample material for analysis
  • soil
  • machinery, packages or equipment used in the cultivation or harvesting of any of these materials.
You must check these materials carefully and follow appropriate procedures before transporting them. Do not transport any materials that may have come in contact with phylloxera.

Phylloxera management zones in Victoria

Control areas have been declared to prevent the spread of phylloxera in Victoria.

Phylloxera Infested Zones (PIZs) are known infested areas, established to prevent the spread of the pest from the area.

Current PIZ (maps):

A single Order applies to the declaration of these PIZs.

Phylloxera Risk Zones (PRZs) are areas where phylloxera has not been detected and which have not been surveyed.

Phylloxera Exclusion Zones (PEZs) are areas known to be free of phylloxera, established to prevent the entry of the pest into the area. Following the declaration of the Bendigo/Heathcote PEZ, the three declared Victorian PEZs have been combined into one zone, which is known as the Western PEZ:

  • Map
     This map is available in jpeg format further down this page.
  • Order

Re-zoning project

Victorian Phylloxera Zones December 2012=0. this image shows a map of the state of Victoria, with all major towns towns marked. The map uses colours to show how badly areas in Victoria are effected by the Phylloxera Louse. The map uses five colours to show the varying degrees to which different areas are effected. The two most prominent colours on the map are white and bright green. The Eastearn half of Victoria is mainly white which indicates that it is a Phylloxera risk zone. The North West and West of Victoria is mainly bright green depicting it to be the Western Phylloxera Exclusion Zone 2009. In the middle of this zone is a large area which includes Horsham which is a lighter shade of green. This lighter shade of green indicates the Northern Phylloxera Control Zone. The area to the East of Melbourne which includes Torquay, Colac and stretches over to Warranmbool is purple, depicting the Greater Geelong Phylloxera Control Zone. An area of roughly the same size as the purple one, is the blue Ballarat-Macedon Rangers Control Zone. this area is to the North and North east of the Greater Geelong Control Zone. It includes the towns of Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat and DaylesFord. There is one pocket of yellow in this zone and it is about 40km to the east of Daylesford. Yellow indicates a Phylloxera infested zone. this area is about 40km square. The largest Phylloxera Infested Zone is in North East Victoria and is about 200km square in area. It takes in the towns of Benalla Wangaratta and Wooronga. Other infested pockets in Voctoria include Healesville and an area about 50km square to the southeast of Healesville. An area to the east of Shepparton about 50 km square in size and two areas beside Seymour. To The North west of Seymour is an infested zone about 70km square and to the east of Seymour is an area of infestation in about 30km square in size.

Click the above image to view an enlarged map depicting Phylloxera zones in Victoria, December 2010.

Under the Future Farming Strategy, DPI is surveying parts of Victoria's PRZs, with a view to re-zoning them as part of the Western PEZ if no phylloxera is found. See the phylloxera re-zoning brochure.

This map (see right) shows the current status of Victorian phylloxera zones.

Industries allied to viticulture are also affected by the re-zoning process - see Nurseries respond to new phylloxera quarantine zones (industry article)

Maps of the phylloxera management zones of Australia is published by the Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia.

Movement and management procedures

Procedures for PIZs are provided in the National Phylloxera Management Protocol.

Reminders:

Moving trellis materials and irrigation pipes June 2011

Moving grapevine planting material June 2011

Interstate Certification Assurance

In order to facilitate regular movement of all grape material, Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) arrangements are available. These can be used for interstate and intrastate movement of grape material between PIZs and PRZs or PEZs.

Reporting suspected phylloxera

If you think that you may have found phylloxera on your property, contact the DPI Plant Standards Branch on (03) 9210 9390.

Exotic pests of grapevines

Whilst phylloxera has been the major biosecurity issue for Victorian grape growers, many pests not yet recorded in Australia are potential threats to our viticulture industries.

Vines should be checked regularly and any unusual or unknown pest or disease symptoms reported to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881.

Exotic pests which are high priorities for Victorian viticulture include:

Further information

Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation

Phylloxera and Grape Industry Board of South Australia