History of Phylloxera
If you like food and wine, you’ve probably heard of phylloxera, but have you ever wondered why it killed vineyards? This article will discuss the history of phylloxera and explain why it’s bad for wine. Hopefully, this information will help you understand what phylloxera was, and what it meant for the future of wine. Besides being bad for wine, phylloxera also led to interesting discoveries in the wine and food industry.
During its first outbreak, phylloxera history devastated over six million acres of vineyards in France. It also destroyed vineyards in many other European countries. It quickly spread to the American continent and South Africa, where it caused a massive decline in the grape harvest. In addition to France, phylloxera also caused problems in Chile, Argentina, and parts of New Zealand. Although it was found in South Australia and South Africa, a few isolated regions of Portugal and Chile were spared the aphid.
During the 19th century, large numbers of plants were brought to Europe, including vines. The wealthy and fashionable had large greenhouses planted with exotic plants. These new plants often carried diseases that European vine growers did not know about. Oidium, a fungal disease, arrived in Europe in 1847. The disease was soon followed by downy mildew and black rot. Phylloxera, however, proved to be the most destructive of the three.
The phylloxera infestation began in France in 1863. This pest infested grapevines in France, where the plague had not yet begun. Nevertheless, vine growers were able to replant only one-third of their vineyards. Despite the huge impact of Phylloxera, many grape growers in the region tried to fill the void in French production and exports. Ultimately, they only managed to replant half of their vineyards in Lleida before the plague hit.
The History of Phylloxera
In the United States, grape phylloxera is an emerging problem. In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service confirmed that the pest was present in a vineyard in Mesa County. The pest was also detected in three other vineyard locations in the Grand Valley AVA, a growing wine region that surrounds Grand Junction and Palisade. Further investigations are expected to take place once the ground thaws.
Phylloxera’s effects on wine were devastating. It destroyed about 40% of France’s vineyards. At the time, wine was a major source of agricultural revenue for the country. Prior to the outbreak, wine production in France was concentrated in only a small number of highly specialized regions. The widespread destruction of phylloxera significantly reduced the income of these wine producers. It also significantly affected the agricultural revenue of France as a whole.
The most successful way to combat the pest is to grow resistant rootstocks. Some phylloxera biotypes, such as biotype B, can damage vines, so you should choose strong rootstocks to ensure lasting protection. Your UCCE farm advisor can provide suggestions on which rootstocks are best for your specific agronomic conditions. You should also make sure to store propagating material in clean places before planting.