Abstract
Flavescence dorée (FD) is a quarantine grapevine disease associated with FD phytoplasmas (FDp). No curative methods are available for treating FDp-infected grapevines and the mandatory control measures consist of insecticide applications against the main FDp insect vector Scaphoideus titanus (Ball 1932) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and the removal of infected grapevines. Despite such systematic control measures, FD has become widespread across numerous European winegrowing areas. Meanwhile, several alternative vectors capable of acquiring and transmitting FDp have been identified and additional host plant species have been found harboring FDp genotypes associated with FD outbreaks. This highlights the importance of extending disease management efforts beyond individual vineyard plots and considering the broader landscape as an element of FD epidemiology. This study examined the potential epidemiological role of the alternative FDp vector Orientus ishidae (Matsumura 1902) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and its association with the host plant Corylus avellana. A hatching experiment was conducted to confirm the role of C. avellana as a host plant for O. ishidae in the Swiss southern Alps. Meanwhile, a habitat management (HM) experiment was designed, involving the removal of C. avellana resprouts acting as O. ishidae host plant and shelter in the surroundings of vineyards. The removal of the C. avellana resprouts confirmed to be a good strategy to reduce the O. ishidae population in the vineyard and the related risk of exchange of phytoplasma between the wild compartment and adjacent cultivated vineyards. The study concludes by discussing the potential for integrating this HM strategy into conventional FD control methods.