Armenian winemakers warn about the risk of phylloxera infiltration
YEREVAN, April 14. /ARKA/. Armenian viticulturists are seriously concerned over the spread of phylloxera, which is a microscopic louse or aphid that lives on and eats roots of grapes and the introduction of imported grape varieties, which they say could lead to the loss of some endemic varieties of grapes and a drop in of the quality of local wines.
The negative impact of phylloxera
Speaking at today's discussions on how to protect local vineyards from this disease, the director of the Vine and Wine Foundation Zaruhi Muradyan stressed that the Armenian winemaking has been reviving in recent years, saying also that foreign consumers are interesting precisely in local, endemic varieties of grapes.
"A lot of work needs to be done to preserve, expand and present local varieties of grapes and wines in the world," she stressed.
However, according to Muradyan, more than 120 Armenian varieties currently have no names, and planting a large number of imported varieties could displace local varieties and lead to their extinction.
Regarding the phylloxera problem, she said that this pest presents a serious danger, since the market has no control over the planted varieties. This will lead to a decrease in the quality of wine produced in the country.
Fight against the pest
In a conversation with ARKA's correspondent, Muradyan said that the only way to combat phylloxera is to plant only grafted seedlings.
"It is interesting that for unknown reasons, phylloxera does not spread quickly. We need to study this issue, because experience shows that in many countries phylloxera has dried up vineyards in a few years. And we have been talking about phylloxera for over 10 years, but vineyards have not dried out on this scale," she said.
Kristine Margaryan, head of the Plant Genomics Group at the Institute of Molecular Biology, drew attention to the need to preserve biodiversity and ban the export of biomaterial from the country, as well as create an agency that would be engaged in the preservation of Armenian biodiversity.
Living with phylloxera
Head of Sanitary-Botanical Department at Food Safety Inspection Authority Artur Nikoyan said that phylloxera was first detected in Armenia in 2009 in the village of Gai in Armavir Region, on an area of 3 hectares.
Nikoyan believes that it is necessary to learn "to live with phylloxera" and try to restrain its negative impact. He noted that a number of countries around the world plant phylloxera-resistant seedlings to solve this problem.
"Our focus today is on the preservation of the Vayots Dzor region, which is considered a phylloxera-free grape zone. If we can save the Vayots Dzor vineyards, it will be very good, but there are doubts, because the free circulation of plants, seedlings, etc., continues within the country," he said.
According to his data, phylloxera is present in all regions of Armenia except Vayots Dzor and Syunik.
"There is only one thing left for us to do: learn to live with phylloxera, to plant vineyards with phylloxera-resistant seedlings. Whether it will be American, other varieties or local wild varieties, resistant to phylloxera, this is the other side of the question. In any case, there is no other way," he said. -0-
