Victorian scientists are to begin a research project in order to use sniffer dogs to combat phylloxera, the world’s worst grapevine pest.
Agriculture Victoria principal research scientist Kevin Powell, with specialist dog trainer Craig Murray and his almost two-year-old Labradors Glory and Mamba, have begun a pilot project to explore the possibility of dogs being used as a novel early detection approach to detect phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) to ease quarantines.
‘‘Grape phylloxera is the number one threat to our fruit and wine producing grapevines in Australia.
‘‘Victoria’s grape growing industry supplies three distinct domestic and export markets — wine, dried and table; the wine industry has the dominating share, contributing over $1.5billion per annum to the state’s economy,’’ Dr Powell said.
source: sheppnews.com.au
