Episode Details

Invasive pests and diseases are a challenge for all grape growers. Research is vital to develop new strategies and solutions. The Pierce's Disease/Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board was established nearly two decades ago to allocate funding to the most promising research projects. Kristin Lowe, Research Coordinator at the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board and President of Vine Balance Consulting shares how projects are funded through a rigorous scientific review and screening panel. Also, learn about some of the most exciting projects including "pathogen confusion" to control Pierce's Disease from Dr. Steve Lindow and a gene editing technology for grapevines using plant protoplasts Dr David Tricoli.

• 89: New Pierce's Disease Vaccine (podcast)
• 2021 Pierce's Disease Research Projects at a Glance
• 2021 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium Proceedings
• 2021 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium session recordings
• 2022-07-16 Night Harvest Lighting & SWEEP Grants Tailgate
• About the PD/GWSS Board
• Biological Control of Pierce's Disease of Grape by an Endophytic Bacterium
• CDFA Pierce's Disease Research Symposium
• SIP Certified
• Sustainable Ag Expo November 14-16, 2022
• Vine Balance Consulting

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Craig Macmillan 0:00

I'm your host Craig Mcmillan. And with me today is Kristin Lowe, president of Vine Balance Consulting, and research coordinator for the Pierce's Disease Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board. Welcome, Kristin.

Kristin Lowe 0:12

Thank you so much for having me.

Craig Macmillan 0:13

First off, can you tell us what is the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Board or the PDGWSS? As I want to call it from now on?

Kristin Lowe 0:21

Absolutely. So the PDGWSS Board is a group of California growers or grower producers. There's 14 board members and also one public member. And their primary goal is to make sure that all of the assessment funds that are received to the board go to the most promising research for our most challenging pests and diseases today. Those that are designated as important problems.

Craig Macmillan 0:48

And so the funding comes from an assessment.

Kristin Lowe 0:50

That is correct. So the assessment, I believe, on average is about $1.50 per $1,000 of grapes in terms of value .The most, the cap is at $3 per 1000 grapes in value. But yes, that's collected every year and has been so since the board started back in 2001.

Craig Macmillan 1:1