Press release
, François-Xavier Branthôme
EU-funded VIRTIGATION project tackles viral disease in tomatoes and cucurbits
The EU-funded VIRTIGATION project has been launched to develop solutions against emerging viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits, specifically targeting the ToBRFV and ToLCNDV viruses. Especially begomoviruses and tobamoviruses are threatening tomatoes and cucurbits across the world, having already led to colossal losses ranging from 15% to devastating entire yields.
According to the press release published on 15 September 2021, the most dangerous begomoviruses currently affecting tomatoes and cucurbits are the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and the Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), both transmitted by whiteflies. In recent years, another pathogen has emerged as a serious threat to tomatoes: the tobamovirus known as Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), which is transmitted mechanically through, for example, injuries on plants. The EU-funded VIRTIGATION project aims to protect tomatoes and cucurbits from these viral diseases.
Tomato and cucurbit plants infected by these viruses often develop severe symptoms, which cause a decrease in photosynthesis and a disruption of the plant hormone balance and the growth physiology of the plant. Warm weather conditions and the increasing emergence of pesticide resistance in insects are likely accelerating the spread of these viruses.
These plant viruses are spreading rapidly through fields and greenhouses, as these viruses are highly stable and aggressive. To date, few viable remedies exist to tackle the devastation caused by these plant viruses.
In response to these global virus threats, the VIRTIGATION project aims to reduce tomato and cucurbit crop losses by up to 80%. VIRTIGATION will propose and demonstrate several innovative bio-based solutions, which, alone or in combination, will target the viruses, and whiteflies transmitting these diseases, in tomato and cucurbit plants. The project will develop integrated pest management strategies, including plant vaccines based on cross-protection, natural viral resistance by classical breeding techniques, biopesticides, like plant extracts, targeting viral insect vectors, and sustainable disinfection of contaminated soil and substrate.
VIRTIGATION brings together 25 partners from academia, industry, research & technology organizations, agricultural extension services and SMEs from 12 countries: Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, UK, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Israel, Morocco and India.
VIRTIGATION is led by the Department of Biosystems at the KU Leuven university in Belgium, one of the oldest and most renowned research universities across the globe. The VIRTIGATION Coordinator, Hervé Vanderschuren, Professor of Tropical Horticulture, outlines the ambition of the project:
“Over the last years, the society has become aware of the importance to develop our capacities to cope with pandemics. Viral diseases not only impact human health directly, they can also undermine the sustainability of our food production systems when they cause important losses to crops. Therefore, there is a pressing need to increase our knowledge and capacities to implement novel and sustainable solutions, such as the deployment of crop varieties resistant to viral diseases, biological control of insect vectors transmitting viral diseases, as well as the development of vaccines to prevent viral diseases to rapidly propagate in susceptible crop varieties. The VIRTIGATION consortium will use a multidisciplinary approach to develop the aforementioned solutions, in order to reduce the impact of emerging viral diseases on tomato and cucurbits. “
Some complementary data:
Further details are available (English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Indian) at: https://www.virtigation.eu/
and in the VIRTIGATION Initial Press Release for Specialist available at:
https://www.virtigation.eu/initial-press-release-specialist-audience-september-2021/
Source: virtigation.eu
