Educational Outreach/Information Dissemination to Users

The accidental introduction of GWSS into California, and the possibility that this insect could substantially increase the incidence and spread of X. fastidiosa in commercially important crops and ornamentals, has accelerated the need to move sound, science-based knowledge on the disease and its vectors into the public domain.  This is being facilitated by the Division’s network of county-based Cooperative Extension advisors, whose primary role is educational outreach to the community, and by campus-based scientists and specialists who are leading research efforts.  Together, they are delivering the latest information from the University to those who need it most.

To accomplish this, Division academics are employing an educational outreach and information dissemination strategy that includes farm visits and small group consultations; workshops and presentations to growers, pest control advisors, governmental agencies and scientific societies; publications, brochures and other print products; press releases and media contacts; and Web sites and other Internet-based tools.

On-farm visits, workshops and presentations to growers and others.  Since 1996, Division advisors and scientists have made hundreds of farm visits and conducted small group consultations with growers, farm managers, processors and pest control advisors.  They have extended research-based information on the X. fastidiosa bacterium,  the symptoms of Pierce’s disease in vines and ways to control its spread, and life cycles and habitat preferences of BGSS and GWSS.  They have provided information on the disease and its vectors to commodity groups, governmental agencies, elected officials, other scientists and the public through workshops, conferences, and presentations at legislative hearings and professional meetings.

Appendix II provides a summary of presentations for the period 1996 through 1999.  In the first year the focus was on Pierce’s disease in grapes on the North Coast and the spread of oleander leaf scorch in Southern California.  More recently the discovery of GWSS as a transmission source of PD has taken on importance.  The presenters include a cross-section of county-based advisors and campus-based researchers.^[1]

As Pierce’s disease becomes more widespread, workshops and field days will increase in importance as an effective way to disseminate research findings and other new information on PD to large audiences.  Presentations are typically half-day or full-day, include reports from UC scientists and advisors on the latest research results and management strategies, and allow for question and the exchange of information.

In addition to meeting with grape growers in the coming year, the Task Force has identified a need to target wholesale and retail nursery operators with information on GWSS and its threat to agriculture.  Nurseries could inadvertently spread X. fastidiosa to new areas of the state if plants are shipped with GWSS egg masses on the foliage.

Publications, brochures and other print media products.  UC scientists and Cooperative Extension farm advisors also use a variety of print mediums to extend information on PD and its vectors to growers, regulators, elected officials, pest management professional and colleagues within the Division.  Appendix II provides a sampling of articles published in refereed and peer- reviewed journals, newsletters, commodity/industry magazines and technical abstracts from 1975 through 1999.

Several years ago, the UCCE Integrated Pest Management area advisor for the North Coast published a 12-page booklet, Pierce’s Disease in the North Coast.  The illustrated guide identified symptoms of PD, how to treat infected vines, and described the role of BGSS in spreading the disease.  A color flyer on Pierce’s disease was also produced. These publications have been used by growers, farmworkers, pest control advisors and agricultural commissioners.

In 1996 the UC Cooperative Extension IPM area advisor in Southern California helped develop a diagnostic kit for oleander leaf scorch.  Working with the firm AgGia, the area advisor contributed to the design of a commercial kit that is used to identify this strain of X. fastidiosa.

The Division recently published a GWSS identification guide commissioned by the Task Force.  Task Force members identified a critical need for such a publication at its October 15, 1999, meeting.  Less than two months later a full-color brochure was produced and distributed. Design, layout and content were coordinated with CDFA and the grape industry.  A copy of the brochure –  Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter: A Serious Threat to California Agriculture – may be found in the inside back cover of this report.

Fifty thousand copies were printed and shipped to UC Cooperative Extension advisors in mid-December 1999.  These were distributed to commodity groups, county farm bureaus and individual growers.  A second batch of 50,000 was printed in mid-January 2000.  About 20,000 copies have been provided to CDFA for mass distribution to wholesale and retail nurseries throughout California.

Press releases, media tip sheets and interviews. Over the past decade, University scientists, specialists and farm advisors have reached radio, television and print media audiences with science-based information on Pierce’s disease and its insect vectors.  Division academics continue to be available to the media for interviews and story ideas.  Contact information for UC academics with expertise on PD, the X. fastidiosa bacterium, and GWSS and BGSS can be accessed at http://danr.ucop.edu/news/askuc/AskAg.htm.\

The Division issued a tip sheet on research on Pierce’s disease under way in the University to accompany the press release announcing the UC Pierce’s Disease Research and Emergency Response Task Force.  This October 6, 1999, release featured 10 research projects and educational outreach efforts with descriptions and contact information.  On October 25, 1999, the Division’s semi-monthly radio feed featured a segment on the glassy-winged sharpshooter. This was distributed to more than 100 English-language radio stations.  A December 17, 1999, press release announced the release and availability of the four-color GWSS brochure.

On-line Web sites. Several University of California Wweb sites feature news on PD and its vectors. The most comprehensive site is maintained by the UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources.  The “Xylella fastidiosa” Web site provides an overview and introduction to Pierce’s disease, control guidelines for the disease in California, information on diseases caused by X. fastidiosa and its insect vectors, news tips, and links to academics throughout the world with expertise in Pierce’s disease.  This is highly recommended and also includes a link to the X. fastidiosa genome mapping project in Brazil. Access the web page at http://nature.Berkeley.EDU/xylella/.

Other sites are maintained by the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura County office.  The Division Web site provides an online media packet and three news releases on GWSS and PD, a radio news feature with full audio, a PDF copy of the GWSS color brochure, and downloadable color images of the insect.  Go to http://danrcs.ucdavis.edu/Special/gwss/default.html.

The UCCE Ventura County web site has a detailed description of GWSS, a partial list of host plants and photos of the insect and its egg masses on leaves.  Go to http://ucceventura.xlrn.ucsb.edu/IPM/IPMHome.htm.