February 12, 2025 – The threat of grapevine pests and diseases is a constant battle, but research driven by the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board for the past 25 years remains the cornerstone for developing effective management and long-term solutions.
“Thanks to the ongoing support of California’s winegrape growers, the PD/GWSS Board has accelerated focused, groundbreaking research to advance knowledge, improve management practices and rapidly respond to emerging threats,” said Karen Ross, California Secretary of Agriculture. “Growers’ commitment allows us to sustain powerful partnerships with local, state and federal agencies, and other industries, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the winegrape industry.”
The Board was established 25 years ago as an industry and government partnership to minimize the impact of PD and GWSS and fund promising research. The Board is a grower-led and grower-funded effort, ensuring funds are spent wisely and productively to find solutions. The Board is also primed to rapidly respond to new challenges, such as the swift response to the European grapevine moth in Napa County in 2010 and the more recent threat of the spotted lanternfly.
The Board enlists top scientists, with research priorities shaped through external reviews to ensure efforts remain impactful. Guided by a research coordinator and scientific review panel, the Board selects projects that are practical, relevant and aligned with growers’ needs. Currently, it’s supporting 33 projects and will evaluate new proposals in April.
“Science takes time, but it’s amazing to see the progress made in tackling PD, GWSS and viruses,” said Randy Heinzen, Board chair. “Research has evolved from understanding how these diseases and pests spread to developing PD-resistant grape varieties, genetic tools to block disease transmission, biocontrol options, resistant rootstocks and better management practices.”
PD/GWSS Research Highlights:
- Filling knowledge gaps in Pierce’s disease (PD) and glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS)
- Studying how PD spreads in vineyards
- Investigating genetic resistance to PD
- Developing and testing PD-resistant winegrapes
- Evaluating wine quality from PD-resistant grapes
- Using biological controls to protect vineyards
- Managing GWSS resistance to insecticides
Research Highlights for Other Pests and Diseases:
- Helping eradicate European grapevine moth
- Supporting efforts to eradicate the European grapevine moth
- Identifying insect vectors of grapevine viruses
- Studying how grapevine viruses spread
- Understanding virus impacts on vine health and grape quality
- Developing management strategies for brown marmorated stink bugs and mealybugs
- Exploring resistant grape cultivars and rootstocks for vine mealybug
Learn more about Board-funded research at: bit.ly/PDBoardResearch
About the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board
In the face of increasing risks of invasive pests and diseases, California’s winegrape growers can turn to the innovative grower-government partnership created over two decades ago to help protect their vineyards. The PD/GWSS Board ensures winegrape grower assessment funds are spent wisely and productively to find solutions to PD, GWSS and other designated winegrape pests and diseases. The PD/GWSS Board has invested over $57.7 million in over 298 research and outreach grants since 2001 to safeguard California winegrapes.
For more information, visit bit.ly/PDGWSSboard.
