The grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, is a viticultural pest that in the past has devastated vineyards worldwide, yet little is known about this insect's biology. The genetic structure of Australian populations of grape phylloxera and its mode of reproduction were studied following the development of four polymorphic microsatellite loci. Insects were collected from 28 vineyards, with a total of 361 insects included in the study. The majority of vineyards were infested by functionally parthenogenetic lineages of grape phylloxera that inhabit the root system and there was little

Grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch, is an important pest of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) (Vitaceae). Using microsatellite DNA markers it was demonstrated strong associations can exist between D. vitifoliae asexual lineages and vine host type within a vineyard. Also, in excised root bioassays, D. vitifoliae collected from three regions where different genotypic classes predominated showed host-specific differences in life table parameters of reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase. Lastly, comparisons of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome oxidase I) sequences revealed that D. vitifoliae in Australia have paraphyletic origins and fall into two clades partially related to vine host usage. These findings indicate introduction of separate lineages of D. vitifoliae which have close host associations and as such, have important implications for management of this pest in Australia.

Patterns of variation at microsatellite loci suggest that root populations of the pest grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) are largely parthenogenetic in Australian vineyards. To investigate reproduction in leaf galling phylloxera and the association between these individuals and phylloxera on roots, we examined in detail genetic variation in phylloxera from a vineyard block. Some genotypes found on leaf galls within this block were not present on roots, whereas others spanned both zones. There was no evidence that genotypes on roots were the product of sexual reproduction in leaf galls. mtDNA variation was not associated with the location of the phylloxera clones. The spatial distribution of genotypes within a root population was further investigated by intensively sampling phylloxera from another vineyard block. Joincount spatial autocorrelation statistics were used to explore fine-scale spatial structure. Clones were nonrandomly distributed within the block and there was evidence that the distribution of clones followed rows. These findings suggest firstly that there is limited dispersal of root and leaf feeding phylloxera, and secondly that factors, other than vine host, are likely to be important and contribute to clonal structure within populations.

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