Management of yellow dwarf disease in Europe in a post‐neonicotinoid agriculture

Abstract

Barley/cereal yellow dwarf viruses (YDVs) cause yellow dwarf disease (YDD), which is a continuous risk to cereals production worldwide. These viruses cause leaf yellowing and stunting, resulting in yield reductions of up to 80%. YDVs have been a consistent but low-level problem in European cereal cultivation for the last three decades, mostly due to the availability of several effective insecticides (largely pyrethroids and more recently neonicotinoids) against aphid vectors. However, this has changed recently, with many insecticides being lost, culminating in a recent European Union (EU) regulation prohibiting outdoor use of the neonicotinoid-insecticide compounds. This change is coupled with the growing challenge of insecticide-resistant aphids, the lack of genetic resources against YDVs, and a knowledge deficit around the parameters responsible for the emergence and spread of YDD. This means that economic sustainability of cereal cultivation in several European countries including France and United Kingdom is now again threatened by this aphid-vectored viral disease. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the YDV pathosystem, describe management options against YDD, analyse the impacts of the neonicotinoid ban in Europe, and consider future strategies to control YDV.

Fine Characterization of a Resistance Phenotype by Analyzing TuYV-Myzus persicae-Rapeseed Interactions

“…In Europe, insecticides of the neonicotinoid family are no longer available to farmers [18] and resistance to pyrethrinoids has been already described in numerous aphids species of economic importance including M. persicae [26]. Thus, the fine characterization of virus/aphid/rapeseed interactions involved in plant to plant transmission of TuYV appears to be essential for the implementation of future management strategies against this aphid-borne virus.…”

“…However, insecticides could (i) induce side effects on the environment and on non-targeted organisms, and (ii) lead to the selection of insecticide-resistant individuals in aphid populations. In the context of the recent EU ban on the use of NNI in the field [18,19], which potentially increases crop exposure to insects and the viruses they transmit [20,21], the use of resistant/tolerant genotypes should be considered as the preferred solution to reduce the impacts of TuYV on rapeseed production.…”

A Journal of the Plague Year

“…One of these deals with insects as vectors for a plant disease. It reviews the effects of the neonicotinoid ban in Europe on management of yellow dwarf disease 23 . A related paper reviews the parameters that are drivers in the dynamics of barley yellow dwarf virus epidemiology that are needed in decision support models for managing this important pest 24 .…”

“…It reviews the effects of the neonicotinoid ban in Europe on management of yellow dwarf disease. 23 A related paper reviews the parameters that are drivers in the dynamics of barley yellow dwarf virus epidemiology that are needed in decision support models for managing this important pest. 24 Desbordes et al 25 review the discovery and mode of action of the fungicide isoflucypram.…”

Viral and fungal diseases of wheat in Ukraine: a threat to food security

“…These viruses cause leaf yellowing and stunting, resulting in yield reductions of up to 80%. One of the first causal agents of YDD in wheat is barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) 8 . In wheat plants, YDD symptoms consist of leaf yellowing or reddening often most visible on the flag leaf, stiff leaves with an upright posture, diminished root growth, and plant stunting.…”