January 2023

  • PD/GWSS Board Taps National Academy of Sciences to help Strengthen Research Strategy
  • PD/GWSS Board-funded Researcher Presenting at the 2023 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium
  • Research & Outreach Project Proposals Due Jan. 31, 2023
  • Updates on Nursery Programs
PD/GWSS Board Taps National Academy of Sciences to help Strengthen Research Strategy

To ensure growers’ dollars continue to be invested wisely in research to find solutions to winegrape pests and diseases, the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board will conduct a comprehensive review of its research program with the National Academy of Sciences.

“This review will help the Board continue to focus growers’ dollars where it counts, zeroing in on the most promising research and opportunities to increase progress on combatting grapevine viruses,” said William Drayton, Board chair.

The committee will review current knowledge on grapevine red blotch virus and grapevine leafroll-associated virus type 3, research outcomes and gaps, and approaches for future research. They will also assess the Board’s current virus research projects, proposals for new funding, and the Board’s process for reviewing and selecting research proposals to fund. The final report will guide the Board’s strategy for grapevine virus research. The Board conducted a similar review with the National Academy of Sciences in 2004 focused on Pierce's disease and glassy-winged sharpshooter research priorities. Click to read the report.

“The review committee will bring a valuable outside perspective to our program, and help us identify grapevine virus knowledge gaps, opportunities for collaboration, and new technologies and techniques,” said Dr. Kristin Lowe, PD/GWSS Board research coordinator. 
PD/GWSS Board-funded Researcher Presenting at the 2023 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium

Hear the latest from Dr. Marc Fuchs, who is funded by the PD/GWSS Board, at the 2023 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, being held January 24 – 26 in Sacramento.

Fuchs will be part of a panel discussion about Vine Characteristics for Resiliency on Tuesday, January 24 at 9:30 a.m. When considering the development of a vineyard and the appropriate choice of cultivar, grapegrowers must consider future climate changes, limited access to water and other natural resources, potential for novel and/or newly resistant diseases and pests, and challenges with labor availability and operational constraints. Learn what grapevine traits may prove useful in mitigating these issues and what research is showing regarding our current popular cultivars and their resilience concerning future issues. 

You can also read Fuchs' "Updates on Red Blotch Disease Ecology" in the January issue of Wine Business Monthly.
Scientist studying samples in a petri dish
Apply for Research Funding by Jan. 31, 2023

The Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board provides funding support to research and outreach projects focused on protecting vineyards, preventing the spread of pests and diseases, and delivering practical and sustainable solutions.

Project proposals are due via online submission by Jan. 31, 2023. Award notifications will be announced in May 2023 for a July 2023 start. While the Board is using a new grant application portal this year, they will continue to coordinate with the Unified Grant Management for Viticulture and Enology grant-making organizations during the review process.

The Board has invested $52.5 million since 2001 in research and outreach. In 2022, the Board invested $3.8 million in 17 new and five continuing research projects. The consistent, reliable funding made possible by the PD/GWSS winegrape grower assessment means that California’s wine industry supports leading scientists dedicated to finding solutions to PD and other serious pests and diseases of winegrapes.
Updates on Nursery Programs

Nursery Regulatory Program:
In 2022, there were 37,200 nursery stock shipments to non-infested areas of the state. Origin county inspectors stopped four glassy-winged sharpshooter adults, 11 nymphs, and 91 egg masses from moving in nursery stock shipments. Almost all nursery shipments (99.99%) were free of GWSS during destination inspections. However, two enforcement actions (Notices of Rejection) were issued by receiving counties due to viable life stages of GWSS found in incoming nursery stock shipments.

Nursery Stock Approved Treatment Program (ATP):
In 2022, there were 9,846 ATP shipments, consisting of approximately 1.94 million plants. No regulatory actions were taken against any ATP nurseries for viable life stages last year.