(Dr. Hennie van Vuuren and Dr. Pat Bowen).

View attached .pdf file.

Brett_Odour_Project_Results_Summary_Aug-2006_0.pdf

(H. Buchler)

While the wasp populations in most vineyards were lower than last year, some of the very early, thin-skinned varietals still suffered some damage. The culprits belong to the family of vespidae, with the European paper wasp appearing in the largest numbers, followed by the yellow jackets and the bald faced hornets.

For full details view attached file.

Controlling_wasps.pdf

Insecticides are not always effective for the control of cutworms, and their use often reduces numbers of beneficial insects that help control secondary pests. Alternative methods of control are required in order to prevent excessive levels of damage while maintaining numbers of natural enemies. Past research has shown that timing of weed control in spring and the presence of certain broadleaf plants greatly affects levels of damage.

(In cooperation with Simon Fraser University, Phero Tech and Dr. John Borden - PARC Agassiz)
They will identify and synthesize all pheromone components of this click beetle to be used as an attractant for monitoring and possibly also controlling populations through mass trapping, mating disruption or “attract and kill” devices.

(Dr. Kevin Usher – PARC Summerland, and Dr. Nigel Eggers – OUC Kelowna)

(Dr. Pat Bowen - PARC Summerland)

This project will focus on the effects of deficit irrigation on coarse textured soils in the South Okanagan. Within the growing season three factors must be managed to optimize fruit development while minimizing the risk of delayed fruit maturation, low yields, and poor cane ripening. These are: fruit light microclimate, vine balance and water supply.

(Dr. Pat Bowen – PARC – Summerland)

(Nigel J. Eggers – UBC Okanagan)

Brett is probably resident in most Okanagan wineries, but is kept in check by current sterile techniques, and the 4-ethylguaiacol and 4-ethylphenol concentrations are very likely well below their thresholds. The concentrations of these two compounds can be used to monitor the effectiveness of Brettanomyces control programs. This analytical method for estimating the extent of Brettanomyces contamination is rapid and will quickly provide information regarding the effectiveness of the sterile techniques.

(Tom Forge – Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre)

(Nigel J. Eggers – UBC Okanagan)

The objectives for this project are:

• To outline the required elements of a winery specific Health and Safety program. This outline would be presented to the BC Wine Institute R+D committee.
• To develop a template “Health and Safety” manual that can be easily modified by each winery.
• To develop a training outline to ensure that Management and staff are appropriately trained to perform their respective duties in accordance with the safety standards established by each specific winery and WCB.

(Dr. Peter Sholberg – PARC)

Sourrot.pdf

(Dr. Pat Bowen – PARC)

This publication is a companion to the Management Guide for Grapes for Commercial Growers, British Columbia Wine Institute, Kelowna BC.

For full details view attached file.

pests_of_grape.pdf

Dr. Tom Lowery
AAFC-PARC, Summerland
Registration of new pesticides is required for the continued viability of the grape and wine industry in BC. Many insecticides formerly used on grapes are no longer available, are ineffective, or cause outbreaks of secondary pests such as mites. Reliance on broad-spectrum, highly toxic insecticides also runs counter to the image that the B.C. grape and wine industry hopes to cultivate.

(Dr. Tom Lowery – PARC)

This project has been approved but deferred. This project will evaluate several insecticides for efficacy against leafhoppers, cutworm, and click beetle. These include formulated extracts from neem, Azadirachta indica, horticultural oils, and the insect growth regulator buprofezin (Applaud) for leafhoppers, and spinosad (Success) and B.T. for the control of cutworm.

(Dr. Gerry Neilsen - PARC)

Recently, there have been reports of vines with poor vigour and weak growth, which may be a result of nutrient deficiency, compounded by overcropping. Low vigour can also be a consequence of excessive root damage, resulting from soil nematodes. This project will correlate vine nutrition and quality of grapes in a number of soils in the Okanagan/ Simlkameen and determine if nematodes play a role in vines showing poor vigour.

For full details view attached file.

Nutritionalrequirements.pdf

Recent experience and research with hot water treatment protocols for imported grapevines have found that handling and storage procedures before and after HWT can influence vine vitality after planting. We plan to conduct an experiment using young Merlot and Chardonnay vines on 3309 rootstock that will be subjected to combinations of handling treatments including hydration in storage, pre- and post-HWT acclimation, and post HWT cold storage. There will also be a set on vines without HWT that will undergo some of the same handling treatments for comparison.

Research will be conducted to determine interactions among environmental conditions (soil and climate), irrigation and N fertilization levels, and canopy management methods that influence wine grape quality. The goal of the research is to determine whether a decline in canopy performance due to stress resulting from water and N deficits delays maturation and reduces fruit quality. The research will be conducted at two or three commercial sites differing in climate and soil texture.

(Pat Bowen, Carl Bogdanoff, Brad Estergaard and Steve Marsh – PARC)

The effects of application and removal timing for polyethylene vine canopy enclosures (sleeves) was studied in two Okanagan Valley vineyards.

For full details view attached files.

polyethelyne.pdf