The e-learning courses provided by ACTA, working on behalf of the French Directorate General for Education and Research, are provided through a dedicated website and divided into sectors, for example, field crops, vegetable production etc. We have taken a closer look at the training dedicated to viticulture, particularly important in France as vines occupy close to one million hectares of land and play a major part in the country’s economy as well as attracting large numbers of tourists from France and beyond. And, given the diverse range of insect pests and diseases faced, pesticide use is high.
The viticulture course adopts the approach established in the STEPHY Guides. The first of these is available in English and is a practical guide for the co-design of cropping systems less reliant on pesticides in mixed farming systems. You can read more and download a copy here.
So the starting point is an examination of all the possible levers for pest management, divided into four categories: actions to limit the initial potential of pests, actions which avoid pest attacks, mitigation actions to minimise damage when pests and vines come into contact and, finally, remedial solutions. In each of these categories, trainers are taken through the options for action and provided with links for further information, either on the EcophytoPIC transversal website or in the section dedicated to viticulture.
To combat diseases, for example, the first task is to seek to break the cycle, which in viticulture is mainly through the management of inoculum. Creating an environment unsuitable for the conservation of inoculum can be achieved through improving soil permeability (drainage and soil cover favour infiltration). For weed management, the aim is to limit their development. Well managed permanent cover crops (i.e. grass cover) can limit primary infestations, the course notes, but their composition is important and needs to take into account the regional climate and vigour of the vines, and must be well managed.
The course then offers options for avoiding pest attacks, in other words avoiding periods when pests are active and crops are sensitive. For vines, it identifies managing their vigour as a lever to make them less susceptible to disease, which can be achieved though better fertiliser management, cover crops between rows and the correct choice of rootstock and clones.
Mitigation measures seek to minimise damage when pests and vines are in contact so the aim is to create conditions which are favourable for vines and unfavourable for pests. For diseases, the course identifies the creation of a favourable microclimate through work when the vines are in vegetation, either eliminating those parts of the vine most sensitive to parasites or avoiding the confinement of disease within the plant architecture, particularly around grape clusters (removing buds, trimming, leaf removal etc.). For mitigating the effect of weeds, grass cover is important as it plays several roles: preventing the large build-up weed seed banks, managing vine vigour (less favourable to diseases) and competing with weeds.
The course identifies variety innovation and choice of clone as key factors in reducing pesticide use, in particular the creation of varieties which are tolerant to diseases (new tolerant varieties will be available to French growers in the very near future). The course emphasises, though, that planting or replanting is a crucial moment. The cost and work involved needs to be carefully planned to reduce pest pressure and some prophylactic measures can contribute to this, such as choice of vine, population density, vine height, management of young plants and management of plot boundaries.
The course also identifies the role of landscape management. Studies have shown that changes to the landscape (as achieved by Charles Duby and his colleagues in Languedoc-Roussillon) can be a source of ecological reservoirs for biodiversity in general, though the importance of exchanges between hedges, grass cover and the plot have not always been clearly identified.
Surveillance tools are important to an integrated approach to viticulture and the course identifies the value of observation networks for monitoring pest pressure and evolution. One challenge is to be able to diagnose symptoms and recognise different pests and beneficials, and the course points to guides that can help.
The course examines the various control methods available as remedial solutions. Biocontrol is more or less important according to the pest concerned, it notes. Its use has been proved against insect pests such as grapevine moths and mites and developments are ongoing for other insects and diseases. Complete dossiers on their use are available, or will shortly be available, on the EcophytoPIC website.
Physical control methods in viticulture consist largely of soil maintenance (weeding) and canopy management (eliminating sources of disease or sensitive areas of the vine). Complete dossiers are available for mechanical weeding in the row and mechanical leaf removal on the EcophytoPIC website.
Chemical control supports alternative prophylactic or control measures, particularly when grape quality is threatened. The course identifies ways in which this control can be better integrated through such measures as the better management of applications over time (number of applications and when) and space (treatments localised on the ground or vegetation). It stresses the importance of suitable material and equipment in order to meet technical and environmental demands and a precision viticulture approach.
Finally, the course emphasises the need for concerted and collective action. For example, if mating disruption is introduced it should be over several plots and cover a sufficient area to be effective, and control of flavescence dorée needs to be regional.
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Last update: 24/05/2023 - ENDURE © 2009 - Contact ENDURE - Disclaimer