The project

First steps include the monitoring of Drosoplila suzukii populations in different grape varieties. Then, the attract-and-kill method will be applied and evaluated. In both cases, innovative attractants and widely available lures that are highly attractant to the target pest species will be used, in combination with modified traps, carrying biological insecticides (e.g., spinosad), aiming to suppress the pest populations beyond damaging levels. Finally, the compatibility of the method with other sustainable control tactics for other grapevine pests such as mealybugs, grapevine moth and leafhoppers will be evaluated.

WP1. Project Management

WP1 objectives are the scientific coordination and smooth management of the administrative, financial and all other duties throughout the project life cycle. The coordinator (BPI) will ensure communication between members of the research team, monitoring the progress of the project, controlling the quality of participant contributions, ensuring that deadlines are met.

WP2. Monitoring of Drosoplila suzukii populations in different grape varieties

Traps with innovative attractants and widely available lures will be applied in different grape varieties in Ktima Gerovassileiou for monitoring D. suzukii populations.
Ktima Gerovassiliou will be the pilot field of the project. Members of BPI and AUTH will be involved in experimental design, data collection and analysis.

WP3. Attract-and-kill method

Attract-and-kill method will be applied using innovative attractants in SPLAT form and modified traps, carrying biological insecticides (e.g., spinosad), aiming to suppress the pest populations beyond damaging levels. Evaluation will be performed by monitoring of D. Suzuki populations with traps as in WP2. Pilot plots without any application will be used as control. Attractants will be analysed by gas chromatography (GC). Ktima Gerovassiliou will be the pilot field of the project. AUTH will be involved in experimental design, data collection and analysis. BPI is responsible for gc analysis and data interpretation.

WP4. Compatibility of the method with other sustainable control tactics for other grapevine pests

In pilot plots where only, biological insecticides will be applied, in situ observations and sampling will be performed for the evaluation of the compatibility of the method with other sustainable control tactics for other grapevine pests such as mealybugs, grapevine moth and leafhoppers will be evaluated. Ktima Gerovassiliou will be the pilot field of the project. AUTH will perform in situ observations and morphological identification for other grapevine pests, while BPI will perform the molecular identification of pests.

WP5. Dissemination

All partners will contribute to WP5 actions, through the website page, leaflets, conference organization, announcements in journals and attending and presenting the results at national and international conferences.

Pilot field

Ktima Gerovassiliou will be the pilot field of the project.

It is a single private vineyard stretching over 70 hectares, with Greek and foreign varieties, giving us the opportunity for proper experimentation in multiple plots with the same characteristics available within the same growing season, thus ensuring repeatability and accuracy of results.

The application of the method will be a model for other local vineyards and other wine-growing countries. At the same time, valuable experience will be gained for possible applications of the method in other crops in Greece, with significant export potential, such as cherries, kiwis, apples, and peaches, in which infestations by D. suzukii have been found or will be found in the future.

The same method can be applied to other crops affected by D. suzukii, thus increasing the added value of the project.