Health

How could dogs save wine production threatened by disease?

January, 14, 2025-04:25

Dogs save wine production threatened by disease:

A duo of English Springer Spaniels, named Zinni and Sauvi B, has been enlisted to locate pests that threaten vineyards in California. These dogs utilize their exceptional sense of smell to identify mealybugs, which can infect grapevines with a lethal virus known as leafroll 3.

Research conducted in the Lodi wine-growing area, famous for its Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, revealed that the dogs successfully detected leafroll infections 93.4 percent of the time and achieved a 97.3 percent detection rate for mealybugs. There is hope that these dogs and their future offspring could serve as a sustainable alternative to pesticides, safeguarding valuable crops from destruction.

Dr. Stephanie Bolton from the Lodi Winegrape Commission shared with Wine Spectator: "Dogs possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to humans' five million. They can detect scents that are imperceptible to us. "The dogs are motivated by play, making it a fun activity for them. "She noted that the dogs are expected to enhance their skills over time, making their detection abilities both economically viable and scalable. "This presents significant opportunities for the sustainability of our industry," she emphasized. "We cannot effectively address this issue if we continue to plant infected and infested vines."

The study indicated that the dogs identified leafroll infections 93.4 percent of the time and had a 97.3 percent success rate in detecting mealybugs. The mealybug has been a persistent problem for Californian vineyards for the past thirty years, reproducing quickly and spreading through birds, pruning tools, and mechanical harvesters.

Chemical pesticides used to combat them can have harmful effects on the environment.

In 2023, Ms. Bolton initiated the dog trial with a £350,000 grant from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. In addition to Zinni and Sauvi B, a black Labrador named Malbec, and a German shorthaired pointer named Cab were also part of the testing.

These dogs were trained to patrol the vineyard, alerting their handlers when they detected mealybug pheromones or the distinct scent associated with leafroll 3, which remains undetectable to humans.