EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PIERCE'S DISEASE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY

• Author(s): Gispert, Carmen; Perring, Thomas; Farrar, Charles;
• Abstract: The table grape industry in the Coachella Valley is represented by 10,465 acres of producing vines, which generated grapes valued at $108.5 million in 2001 (Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner, 2001). The glassy-winged sharpshooter was identified in the Coachella Valley in the early 1990's (Blua et al. 1999), and we have documented increases in the numbers of this efficient PD vector over the past 17 months. In July 2002, we confirmed the occurrence of X. fastidiosa (PD strain) in 13 vines from 2 adjacent vineyards in the southeastern part of the Valley. With this discovery, and the increasing numbers of GWSS, the CDFA Pierce's Disease Program in concert with the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner's Office is developing an area-wide vector suppression program. The data gathered in our epidemiological studies provide fundamental information that are valuable for this program.
• Publication Date: Dec 2002
• Journal: 2002 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium