— Grapevines imported from France carry disease —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — Dec. 13, 2006) —
By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times
A serious threat to the local wine industry emerged last week when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed that Bois noir, a grapevine disease originating in France, has been discovered for the first time in Canada in an Osoyoos-area vineyard.
It is believed that new risk mitigation measures “ including quarantining of plants being imported into Canada and treating them in hot water to kill the organism “ will limit future infestations, says CFIA Commodity Officer Chuck Lemmon, who believes the situation will be resolved before the start of the 2007 growing season.
Bois noir was first detected on October 20, and Lemmon says the CFIA informed grape growers immediately, even though it didn't issue a news release until December 5.
Although the CFIA has assured the industry there are no human health risks associated with this disease, which is spread by insects, it can damage and kill grapevines and reduce both their quality and yield.
The disease affects both red and white varietals and has been traced to a shipment of approximately 2,000 grapevines imported from a nursery in France sometime this year. Although the disease has been confirmed on only one plant, other associated Grenache vines from three area vineyards have also been quarantined. Testing is done at the CFIA Plant Health quarantine station in Sidney, B.C.
We know exactly what nursery in France exported the vines, and our government counterparts there are working closely with us and doing an investigation to determine all other possible associations with this import. We also have it all sorted out as to where it is and everything is under regulatory controls. We're now waiting for further word and recommendations from France.
Lemmon says different plants are affected in different ways, but symptoms include leaves turning down, vines becoming rubbery or turning black, and fruit shrivelling up on the vine.
He adds some varietals are fairly resistant to the disease or it can take two to three years to manifest, whereas in other plants the disease can express itself quickly, killing the vines within a year.
Although the leaf hopper responsible for spreading the disease has not yet been found in Canada, Lemmon says he still has big concerns.
There's no guarantee that a local leaf hopper might not also be capable of picking it up and spreading it. It's a small risk, but a real one.rnLemmon is confident the situation will be resolved before the start of the growing season next spring.
We intend to have it out of the ground and disposed of, either by burning it or burying it deep in an approved landfill.rnUnder importation rules, growers are required to map and mark where their imported grapes are planted, and to check on their plants and report anything suspicious to the CFIA.
The CFIA is also initiating an auditing process and conducting inspections of its own. And beginning in 2007, all new imports will be subjected to a hot water treatment, which kills the bacteria. It is also effective in controlling a similar, related disease called Flavescence dorée.
Lemmon says had those new rules already been in force, it would likely have prevented the disease from entering into Canada.
But he adds the difficulty was that the industries in Canada and in Europe weren't prepared to put the new rules in place before next year.
The CFIA is also pushing the idea of developing a much broader propagation certification program in Canada within the next five-to-six years.
One of our goals is that we will be able to do more of this (propagation) in Canada.rnDavid Bond, Executive Director for the Association of B.C. Winegrowers, says his members are very concerned but he has been told the CFIA is working on it. He adds if the disease spreads, it could mean disaster for the local wine industry.
Bond says one big advantage is that this disease was discovered now, when the vines are dormant.
He guesses the CFIA has a 60- to 70-day window to do more testing and determine how extensive the problem is, adding in France, authorities quarantine a five-kilometre radius surrounding the source of the infestation.
I have tremendous confidence in the CFIA. They are taking this very seriously and are going to do everything to make sure this is taken care of.
B.C. Grapegrowers Association President Tony Murray agrees the CFIA has been doing a good job of monitoring and tracking the problem.
He adds his members are well-informed about Bois noir and other diseases. A lot of education goes on about signs to watch for.
However, Murray points out that as serious as the Bois noir threat is, his members are more concerned about how the cold snap at the end of November may affect next year's crops.
The weather impact may be severe on the buds. The fact we got the extreme weather so early could affect plants next spring that had not gone into dormancy.
He also says the appearance of Bois noir in this area is no surprise considering the industry has been importing grapevines for years from France and Germany.
We're living in a world economy now and we trade all over the world. We have to expect there are some risks, he says.
