The Ararat Valley of Armenia, which is full of vineyards, today suffers from an insidious pest.

We are talking about phylloxera, which spreads through vineyards at an enviable rate, moreover, not only through the air, but also in the upper layers of the soil.

According to Arthur Nikoyan, who heads the phytosanitary inspection at the Food Safety Authority of Armenia, phylloxera is not a critical hazard for vineyards at the moment, but each time the area of ​​its destruction is still small. And although no new cases of defeat by this pest of vineyards have yet been recorded, Armenian winegrowers are starting to sound the alarm.

Phylloxera

Recall that the Ararat Valley is a large-scale center for the cultivation of grapes and fruit and vegetable products in Armenia. Phyloxera appeared here at the beginning of this century. Since then, small insect pests that can infect the vineyard even by entering larvae on the soles of shoes have been parasitizing in the root system of Ararat grape bushes. And farmers are puzzling how to get rid of this intruder.

It is noteworthy that you can get rid of phylloxera only in a cardinal way - by destroying the vineyard and planting new bushes in its place, but not earlier than three to four years after the destruction of previous plantations.

Grapes from bushes affected by phylloxera can be eaten. But it will be berries that are deprived of a huge amount of nutrients due to the fact that the root of the plant was affected.

In addition, a grape bush affected by phylloxera requires frequent watering, but gives a very meager crop.