Bolstered by expertise from its in-house entomologist, Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) is leading new research on managing high-priority insect pressures in the vineyard.

“Insect habitats are expanding through climate change and international trade, adding new challenges and compounding existing issues,” said CCOVI’s newest Scientist, Malkie Spodek.

Spodek is evaluating whether a new technology for treating powdery mildew — a chemical-free combination of ozone, ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide developed by Niagara-based Clean Works Inc. — can also be used as a control measure for late-stage multicoloured Asian lady beetles (MALBs).

The company has successfully used the technology at Vineland Estates Winery, which prompted Spodek to wonder about broader applications for the industry.

“There is evidence of ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide successfully being used as a control measure for insects,” Spodek explained.

CCOVI has conducted world-leading research on MALBs, which move from harvested soy crops into vineyards where they can be incorporated into the grape harvest. This introduces a class of molecules that contribute undesirable “green” characteristics to wine, often likened to green pepper or peanut butter.

“Growers have zero tolerance for MALBs, as a single insect can impact an entire harvest,” Spodek said. “There is no shortage of research on its impacts, from economic and environmental implications to buyer perception, and we want to build on that foundation and find more effective management strategies.”

Supported by the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI), Spodek will expose beetles to different variations of the Clean Works treatment in both laboratory and vineyard trials. She will then follow their lifespan for several months to determine if the treatment dispersed them or had impacts on their biology, such as to their reproductive rates.

If successful, the alternative treatment could reduce — or even replace — the synthetic pesticides currently used to mitigate MALBs in the vineyard.

Spodek is also working with CCOVI Principal Scientist Sudarsana Poojari to monitor two vineyards for insects that vector Grapevine Red Blotch (GRBV).

Supported by Ontario Grape and Wine Research Incorporated (OGWRI) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness through the Marketing and Vineyard Improvement Program (MVIP), the project builds on CCOVI Professional Affiliate Justin Renkema’s research identifying the planthopper as a vector of the damaging grapevine virus.

The vineyards, located on opposite sides of the Welland Canal, were planted in 2018 using virus-tested materials. One site is now showing evidence of GRBV — and the two researchers will work together to evaluate the insect populations in each vineyard and determine the level of virus present in their bodies.

“If we can identify which insects are vectoring this virus, we can study their biology and enhance existing integrated pest management strategies to more effectively protect the vitality of the industry’s vineyards,” Spodek said.

Closely related to the planthopper is another problematic insect Spodek said is “right on the doorstep” — the spotted lanternfly (SLF).

Currently found in the United States, this invasive species is capable of surviving Canada’s cold winters and can lay eggs on any flat surface — allowing it to be transported by vehicles crossing the border. While there have been several recent unconfirmed sightings of the damaging insect in Ontario, no established SLF populations have officially been detected in Canada to date.

“When an invasive species comes to a large place, it either comes in large numbers or small numbers that multiply quickly because there is nothing in the natural environment to control it,” Spodek said. “From what we’re seeing in the United States, its voracious feeding capacity significantly weakens the vine, and its secretions can lead to mould development on the fruit, which has a ripple effect impacting yields and fruit quality.”

Lead by the OGWRI’s Darien Temprile, the project will investigate if any registered insecticides in Canada can effectively treat the pest. Building on the work of CCOVI Professional Affiliate Wendy McFadden-Smith and funded through OAFRI, this work seeks to provide the industry with a proactive management strategy for the SLF.

“Ontario’s grape and wine sector supports critical rural economic development for the Niagara region and the province,” said the Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries and Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara West. “Investment in research projects like these provides opportunities to increase competitiveness and innovation and ensures local wineries, grape growers and farm families can continue to thrive and prosper.”

OAFRI is funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.