Background Although native to North America, the invasion of the aphid-like grape phylloxera Daktulosphaira vitifoliae across the globe altered the course of grape cultivation. For the past 150 years, viticulture relied on grafting-resistant North American Vitis species as rootstocks, thereby limiting genetic stocks tolerant to other stressors such as pathogens and climate change. Limited understanding of the insect genetics resulted in successive outbreaks across the globe when rootstocks failed. Here we report the 294-Mb genome of D. vitifoliae as a basic tool to understand host plant manipulation, nutritional endosymbiosis, and enhance global viticulture. Results Using a combination of genome, RNA, and population resequencing, we found grape phylloxera showed high duplication rates since its common ancestor with aphids, but similarity in most metabolic genes, despite lacking obligate nutritional symbioses and feeding from parenchyma. Similarly, no enrichment occurred in development genes in relation to viviparity. However, phylloxera evolved > 2700 unique genes that resemble putative effectors and are active during feeding. Population sequencing revealed the global invasion began from the upper Mississippi River in North America, spread to Europe and from there to the rest of the world. Conclusions The grape phylloxera genome reveals genetic architecture relative to the evolution of nutritional endosymbiosis, viviparity, and herbivory. The extraordinary expansion in effector genes also suggests novel adaptations to plant feeding and how insects induce complex plant phenotypes, for instance galls. Finally, our understanding of the origin of this invasive species and its genome provide genetics resources to alleviate rootstock bottlenecks restricting the advancement of viticulture.

Efeito da Alimentação Sobre o Desenvolvimento e a Reprodução de Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)RESUMO -O efeito de seis dietas naturais sobre o desenvolvimento e a reprodução de Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) foi avaliado em laboratório, a 23 ± 1ºC de temperatura, 70 ± 10% de UR e fotofase de 16h. As larvas foram criadas sobre três tipos de dietas (folhas de primavera, folhas de verão e frutos) de duas plantas hospedeiras (macieira e videira). O desenvolvimento larval, número de ínstares, sobrevivência, peso de pupas, fecundidade e fertilidade variaram em função das dietas. Em folhas de macieira de primavera foram observados a menor duração do desenvolvimento larval, o maior peso de pupas e a maior fecundidade e fertilidade dos adultos. Em frutos, a duração do desenvolvimento larval foi maior do que em folhas. A menor sobrevivência das lagartas foi registrada sobre frutos de macieira. Nos tratamentos com maior número de ínstares as lagartas geralmente apresentaram um incremento na duração do período de desenvolvimento. A duração do desenvolvimento larval (4 em 6 tratamentos) e de pupa (5 em 6 tratamentos) foram dependentes do sexo. Em todas as dietas as fêmeas depositaram maior número de ovos no primeiro dia de oviposição. Os resultados obtidos reforçam a hipótese de que as larvas de A. sphaleropa alimentam-se inicialmente sobre folhas tanto na maçã como na videira, passando depois para os frutos, onde provocam danos severos.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Insecta, lagarta-enroladeira, planta hospedeira, biologia ABSTRACT -The effect of six natural diets on the development and reproduction of Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) was measured under laboratory conditions, at 23 ±1ºC temperature, 70 ± 10% RH, and photoperiod of 16L:8D. Larvae were reared on three types of diet (spring leaves, summer leaves and fruits) from two different host plants (apple tree and grapevine). Larval development, number of instars, survival, weight of pupae, fecundity, and fertility varied as a function of diets. The shortest time span of larval development, the greatest pupal weight, and the greatest adult fecundity and fertility was observed on insects feeding on spring apple leaves. The duration of larval development was longer on fruits than on leaves. The lowest larval survival occurred on apple fruits. Larvae with a higher number of instars generally had an increase in the time span of larval development. Larval development time span (4 out of 6 treatments) as well as pupal development time span (5 out of 6 treatments) was sex dependant. On all diets the females deposited the highest number of eggs on the first day of oviposition. The results obtained reinforce the hypothesis that the larvae of A. sphaleropa first feed on both apple and grapevine leaves, and then move to the fruits, where they cause serious damage.

The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), is the most serious pest in peach, and several insecticide applications are required to reduce crop damage to acceptable levels. Geostatistics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are employed to measure the range of spatial correlation of G. molesta in order to define the optimum sampling distance for performing spatial analysis and to determine the current distribution of the pest in peach orchards of southern Uruguay. From 2007 to 2010, 135 pheromone traps per season were installed and georeferenced in peach orchards distributed over 50,000 ha. Male adult captures were recorded weekly from September to April. Structural analysis of the captures was performed, yielding 14 semivariograms for the accumulated captures analyzed by generation and growing season. Two sets of maps were constructed to describe the pest distribution. Nine significant models were obtained in the 14 evaluated periods. The range estimated for the correlation was from 908 to 6884 m. Three hot spots of high population level and some areas with comparatively low populations were constant over the 3-year period, while there is a greater variation in the size of the population in different generations and years in other areas.

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Biologia de Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) em Sete Dietas Naturais RESUMO-Foi avaliado, em laboratório, o efeito de sete dietas naturais sobre o desenvolvimento e a reprodução de Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick). Os experimentos foram conduzidos a 23 ±1ºC de temperatura, 70 ± 10% de UR e fotoperíodo de 16:8h (L:E). As larvas foram criadas em macieira, videira e madresilva (Lonicera japonica). Para os dois primeiros alimentos foram utilizados três tipos de dietas: folhas de primavera, folhas de verão e frutos. O número de ínstares larvais variou entre cinco e sete. As larvas criadas em folhas de macieira apresentaram, de modo geral, menor número de ínstares, quando comparadas com aquelas criadas em folhas de videira e madresilva. A duração do desenvolvimento larval diferiu entre dietas. As larvas criadas em folhas de macieira-primavera apresentaram a menor duração e as criadas em frutos a maior duração. A sobrevivência de larvas foi menor em frutos que em folhas, principalmente em maçã (17,8%). As pupas fêmeas criadas em madresilva foram mais pesadas que as criadas nas demais dietas. O ciclo de ovo a emergência de adultos variou entre 41 dias em folhas de macieira-primavera e 60 dias em maçã. As fêmeas criadas em madresilva e folhas de macieira-primavera foram as mais fecundas, sendo que aquelas provenientes de maçã não ovipositaram. Madresilva e folhas de primavera foram os alimentos mais adequados; em contraposição, as maçãs foram a dieta menos adequada, o que sugere que dificilmente as larvas possam completar o ciclo sobre esse alimento. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Insecta, lagarta-enroladeira, dieta, planta hospedeira, fase imatura, biologia reprodutiva ABSTRACT-The effect of seven natural diets on the development and reproduction of Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick) was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The experiments were carried out at the temperature of 23 ± 1ºC, with 70 ± 10% of RH and a photoperiod of 16:8h (L:D). The larvae were reared on apple, grapevine and honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). On the first two foods three types of diet were used: spring leaves, summer leaves and fruits. The number of instars varied from five to seven. The larvae reared on apple leaves had, in general, fewer instars than those reared on grapevine and honeysuckle leaves. The duration of larval development differed between diets. The larvae reared on spring apple leaves showed the shortest duration, and those on fruit the longest. The larvae survival was lower on fruit than on leaves, and on apples it was particularly low (17.8%). The female pupae reared on honeysuckle were heavier than those reared on the other diets. The cycle from the egg to the emergence of adults varied between 41 days on spring apple leaves and 60 days on apples. The females reared on honeysuckle and spring apple leaves were the most fecund, whereas the females on apples did not oviposit. Honeysuckle and spring leaves were the most suitable foods. Apples, on the other hand, were the least suitable diet, which leads one to think that larvae c...

Grapevine phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) (Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae) is a worldwide pest of Vitis species. It has forms that feed on leaves and roots. Root forms predominate on Vitis vinifera (L.) cultivars, while leaf forms predominate on Vitis species from its native American range. Recently, high densities of D. vitifoliae infestations in leaves of V. vinifera in Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay have been reported. The aims of this study were to determine the seasonal development of grape phylloxera, quantify infestation levels on V. vinifera leaves, and compare them with infestation levels on leaves of a rootstock of American origin. Studies were conducted in two vineyards in Uruguay from 2004–2007. Terminal shoots of 3309 C and Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Tannat, Viognier, grafted onto resistant rootstock, were sampled weekly and leaves examined for gall presence and insect life stage. First galls were detected in early October; eggs began to appear within two weeks. Two oviposition peaks occurred by the end of December, and they coincided with bursts of shoot growth. On 3309C rootstock, oviposition peaks were more frequent than on the European cultivars. Based on thermal accumulation, D. vitifoliae could complete eight generations a year in Uruguay. Rootstock 3309C suffered the greatest damage but in some cases was similar to the European cultivars. Damage to Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier were also high. There were no galls on Tannat. The 2005–2006 season was characterized by low infestation rates caused by a prolonged drought that affected vegetative growth. There were also differences between vineyards, where the vigorous plants suffering more damage. Leaf galling phylloxera incidence and damage were mainly associated to the cultivar but plant vigor and environmental factors also contributed to increase the incidence.

Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) has been known in Uruguay for 30 years and only in vineyards, despite being polyphagous. In recent years, this pest has caused sporadic but serious damage on some grapevine cultivars. Understanding the insect’s phenology and developing a monitoring program are essential aspects of integrated pest management. We monitored males using sexual pheromone traps on four cultivars of vine, Pinot noir, Tannat, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, in two vine-growing establishments in the Department of Canelones and compiled data on the accumulated effective temperatures for the southern area of Uruguay. We determined that this species undergoes three generations per year and overwinters without diapause as larvae on dried grapes remaining after harvest. Using the proportion of cumulative male moths caught from December to May from 2003–2007 on the four cultivars and the sum of effective temperatures above two previously-published lower-threshold temperatures for development, 12.26°C and 13°C, statistically significant logistic models were estimated. Predictions based on the resulting models suggested that they would be acceptable tools to improve the efficiency of integrated management of this pest in Uruguay.