"NASA's Aerial Imaging Detects Hidden Grape Crop Diseases in California"
Scientists at NASA have successfully used an advanced imaging instrument, the Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-NG), to identify the early stages of grapevine leafroll-associated virus complex 3 (GLRaV-3) in grape crops. The disease, which causes significant damage to grape growers and vintners, is difficult to detect early on. By flying over grape crops in California's Lodi region, researchers were able to differentiate between infected and non-infected vines with up to 87% accuracy before visible symptoms appeared. Early detection could provide farmers with a year to prepare and combat the disease outbreak, potentially leading to breakthroughs in early treatment and prevention of crop diseases worldwide.