The wine industry feels under siege just thinking about the notion that this vector could come to our community. With the introduction of the glassy-winged sharpshooter into Southern California, this new super vector of Pierce's disease brings this pathogen to the front of the class in terms of the sustainability of our industry. Finding the kryptonite cure to cripple the super pest will be difficult and time-consuming. Scientists say due to the complexity of the disease and mobility of the pest, the best hope for a cure is breeding resistance into plants through genetic engineering. The development may take 10 years.
Time is the precious resource facing California agriculture.
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