Plant-parasitic nematodes in Australian viticulture: key pests, current management practices and opportunities for future improvements

This paper provides a brief overview of the Australian grape industry and discusses the distribution and economic importance of its main nematode pests and outlines the management practices (hot water treatment of planting material, nematode-resistant rootstocks and nematicides) that are currently used to minimise losses from nematodes. However, the main focus of the paper is the research that will be required to improve current practices for managing nematodes. Topics covered include: (i) methods of producing nematode-free planting material; (ii) breeding programs to develop rootstock material suitable for local conditions; (iii) the use of molecular-assisted selection and genetic modification to develop transgenic grapevines and rootstocks with resistance to several nematode species; (iv) options for enhancing naturally occurring biological controls; (v) the introduction of agronomic practices that improve the capacity of grapevines to withstand attack from nematodes; and (vi) the development of farming systems that improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties and enhance the suppressiveness of soil to nematodes.