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Virtigation: Emerging viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits: Implementation of mitigation strategies for durable disease management (VIRTIGATION)
Project
Project code: JKI-EP-08-2350, 101000570
Contract period: 01.06.2021
- 31.05.2024
Purpose of research: Applied research
VIRTIGATION will enable a deeper understanding of the plant-virus-vector interactions taking into consideration climate change scenarios. From this understanding and early diagnosis, solutions will be proposed, including vaccines for the plants and biopesticides, as well as integrated pest management strategies taking advantage of the natural resistance of plants for the ecosystems.
VIRTIGATION will thus lead to the reduction of the losses due to viral diseases in tomato and cucurbit vegetables as well as to the decrease in the use of pesticides to control virus vectors under current and projected climate conditions. It is anticipated that losses due to diseases caused by begomoviruses such as ToLCNDV and tobamoviruses such as ToBRFV can be reduced by 80% (in Europe and Israel, eradication could even be achieved) while pesticide usage to control vector population and transmission could be halved, or even totally eliminated in some circumstances, with appropriate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) including natural resistance against viruses and vectors. Because environmental conditions can impact both vector and virus dissemination, the project will help developing preventive measures against emerging whitefly-transmitted geminivirus and mechanistically transmitted tobamovirus diseases in countries at risk for pandemics.
Importantly the project will also establish a pipeline for rapid mitigation of emerging crop diseases caused by RNA and DNA viruses. More specifically, diagnosis tools will be developed to detect and prevent the entry and dissemination of begomovirus and tobamovirus-associated diseases in Europe and in other regions by establishment of adapted quarantine measures. Novel methods to control viral diseases, including biological treatments to limit transmission by seeds and vector and cross-protection strategies, will be made available in order to rapidly reduce losses associated with viral diseases in tomato and cucurbit production. Natural resistances against viruses and vectors will be investigated and introgressed into farmer-, industry- and consumer-preferred varieties for providing a durable mitigation strategy to the tomato and cucurbit value chain and for reducing pesticide usage in vegetable production.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Vegetable Gardening
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics (JKI-EP)
