Vineyard Colonization by Hyalesthes obsoletus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) Induced by Stinging Nettle Cut Along Surrounding Ditches.
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is the most important host plant for both phytoplasma associated with Bois noir disease of the grapevine and its vector Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). Vector abundance in vineyards is favored by stinging nettle growing in surrounding areas. Nettle control by herbicides or cutting can reduce vector population in vineyards. However, chemical weeding can cause environmental problems. Many authors suggest that stinging nettle control applied during H. obsoletus flight could force adults to migrate into vineyards. We evaluate if cutting of nettle growing along ditches during adult flight favors vineyard colonization by H. obsoletus. Three different weed management regimes ("no cuts," "one cut" just before the beginning of adult flight, and "frequent cuts" over the whole vegetative season) were applied to the herbaceous vegetation in ditches bordering two vineyards. The flight dynamics of H. obsoletus were recorded by placing yellow sticky traps on the vegetation along the ditches and at different positions in the vineyards. Frequent stinging nettle cuts (compared with a single cut) in surrounding areas favored the dispersion of vectors inside the vineyards. Stinging nettle control should be based on an integration of a single herbicide application before H. obsoletus emergence followed by frequent cuts to minimize negative side effects of chemical weeding. In organic viticulture, a frequent-cuts strategy should avoid cuts during H. obsoletus flight period, at least in the first year of adoption.
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16 35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy (nicola.mori@unipd.it; alberto.pozzebon@unipd.it; carlo.duso@unipd.it), nicola.mori@unipd.it.
N
N
Mori
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16 35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy (nicola.mori@unipd.it; alberto.pozzebon@unipd.it; carlo.duso@unipd.it).
A
A
Pozzebon
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16 35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy (nicola.mori@unipd.it; alberto.pozzebon@unipd.it; carlo.duso@unipd.it).
C
C
Duso
Consorzio Fitosanitario Provinciale di Modena, Via Santi 14, Direzionale Cialdini, 41123 Modena, Italy (nazareno.reggiani@gmail.com), and.
N
N
Reggiani
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy (francesco.pavan@uniud.it).
F
F
Pavan
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007558:Italy; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000502:physiology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D026982:Urtica dioica; D027843:Vitis
Bois noir; Urtica dioica; integrated weed management; vector control