National, joint action to curb golden yellow disease

(Photo: Pixabay)

Golden yellow disease (FD) of grapes is spread by the American cicada. The pathogen has been confirmed to be present in 13 of the 19 counties in our country, with Zala and the areas around Lake Balaton being particularly severely affected. The disease does not pose a threat to humans and does not spread to wine, but it causes extraordinary damage to the grapes. There is no known cure for it, and it can only be controlled by taking action against the vector that spreads it, the American cicada. This year, the disease is becoming more and more common, so quick action is needed.

As part of the action plan adopted by the Government, a nationwide reconnaissance is being launched

The National Council of Mountain Communities will set up inspection groups of 6-8 people, who will visit the vineyard areas throughout the country. The groups will include plant doctors, plant protection and viticulture and winemaking students, mountain judges and producers, led by local plant protection inspectors and with the professional coordination of Nébih. The reconnaissance will be carried out – in addition to the work of the inspection groups – by air, using drones.

The presence of the infection can only be confirmed by laboratory testing

For the purpose of pre-screening, the Nébih mobile laboratory vehicle will perform on-site measurements. Spring protection measures are of great importance, but post-harvest treatments can also reduce the cicada population, which is why a national pesticide program is being launched: aerial spraying is being used to protect against the spread of the grape cicada in the most severely affected areas.

In order to ensure effective protection, Nébih is urgently examining applications for potential pesticides

The action plan also includes encouraging the use of infection-free, domestically produced and certified propagation material, and due to the high risk of abandoned plantations, mountain judges are authorized to carry out forced fellings.

Nébih