Institut für Rebenzüchtung
Remote Sensing for the Monitoring of Major Grapevine Diseases in ViticultureViticulture in Germany and worldwide is increasingly threatened by the climate change-driven spread of plant diseases. While some can be mitigated through prophylactic measures, others—such as the quarantine disease Flavescence dorée (FD)—require the complete removal of infected vines to prevent further spread. FD is caused by phytoplasmas and transmitted by the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus. Infected vines typically die or become economically nonviable. Due to the high economic impact, EU-wide reporting and control obligations are in place. Detection currently relies on systematic visual assessments, which are time- and labor-intensive.Digital remote sensing offers considerable potential for more efficient monitoring, though it still faces technological limitations. The symptoms of FD and the related disease Bois noir (BN) are spectrally identifiable—this has been demonstrated in laboratory studies using hyperspectral sensors. Drone-based detection also shows promise, but is currently limited by its low area coverage and is thus economically challenging for large-scale applications.Until recently, Germany was considered free of FD. However, in August 2024, Scaphoideus titanus was detected for the first time in Southern Baden, dramatically changing the risk landscape. The rapid spread observed in northern Italy highlights the urgent need for preventive, area-wide monitoring in the affected regions.In addition to FD, ESCA—a fungal grapevine trunk disease—poses a significant threat to viticulture. It causes distinctive leaf symptoms, vine decline, and economic losses. No direct treatment currently exists. The disease’s spread within vineyards remains poorly understood but could be better tracked through remote sensing. Initial studies indicate that ESCA can be clearly differentiated from other diseases using hyperspectral data.The pronounced visual symptoms of ESCA make it an ideal model for satellite-based disease detection. Particularly promising is the synergistic use of Copernicus satellite data, very high-resolution imagery (e.g., WorldView), and hyperspectral sensing, combined with meteorological data. These technologies enable the development of precise diagnostic tools.The proposed project aims to develop a practical, digital diagnostic system for the detection and monitoring of FD and ESCA, based on drone and satellite imagery. It is intended for use at both the individual vineyard level and across regions, and will be evaluated for both economic and technical feasibility.
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
