QLK5-1999-01523 Verticillium wilt in tree species: developing essential elements for integrated and innovative management strategies

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Crops for Solid Wood Products : Integrated Crop Protection & Biological Control : Quality of Life - 5.1.1 Sustainable Agriculture - Plant Systems

Contract No:	QLK5-1999-01523
Source:	Six Month Progress Report - September 2000 - Abstract

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Six Month Progress Report - September 2000 - Abstract

Objectives

The overall aim of this project is to provide essential tools and information needed to develop more efficient and environmentally sound strategies for managing verticillium wilt in trees. The research focuses on three key areas that urgently require clarification:

• pathogen variability,
• host resistance, and
• detection, quantification and risk assessment.

These areas are strongly interconnected. The overall objective of this work is the development of innovative and integrated methods for managing verticillium wilt in trees. Moreover, many of the results will also be useful for management of verticillium wilts in other important hosts.

The scientific and technical objectives for the three research areas are:

• To understand the genetic variability of V. dahliae in relation to its virulence and host range and to chart the distribution of that variability within Europe.
• To staridardise and to generalise methods to select and screen for resistance in woody species, and to identify resistant germplasm of important species.
• To improve risk assessment procedures by developing reliable methods of quantitative detection of V. dahliae in soil and plant materials and of quantitative estimation of the importance of inoculum density level.

An important additional aim of this proposal is to harmonise methods in general, exchange experience between the participating groups and continue the successful European co- operation and added value developed during a previous concerted action on the same subject (FAIR 2015).

Progress

The project started in March 2000. After six months good progress has been made with the research in all three research areas. Protocols and experimental designs were described and extensively discussed at a first general meeting at the end of month 3. Experiments for testing several selection methods were started (Area 2). In addition a collection of fresh isolates was started in order to build material for researching pathogen variability (Area 1). In Area 3 research into factors that determine results in detection and quantification was started.

Achievements

Detailed protocols for selection and screening for resistance were defined and exchanged. A procedure for sampling and storage of isolates was agreed upon. A first general meeting with all participants was held.

Brief details of the project work in each of the three research areas is summarised below.

• In area I a general agreement on protocols to be used for collection and storage of isolates was reached during the first general meeting held after three months. Also a list of reference isolates has been drawn up and it was decided how many isolates initially will be collected and who will do this. After this the relevant participants started collecting isolates in the designated areas.
• In Area 2 (Resistance) protocols have been described, exchanged and discussed extensively at the first general meeting. Experimental details were discussed and the first experiments for testing different methods were started. Also selection experiments looking for host resistance in olive have been started as well as propagation of present maple selections in order to prepare material for evaluating these selections in year 2 and 3.
• In area 3 (Detection and risk assessment) the preparations designing prototypes for a modified Andersen air sampler were started. Analysis of the potential factors that may infuence the results of such a sampler led to the conclusion that without more knowledge on these factors it is impossible to design a good prototype. Therefore it was decided to postpone the construction of a new prototype by about 6 months and first concentrate on standardising the sampling procedure.

Future actions

In Area I (Pathogen variability) the collecting of isolates will be continued and characterisation of isolates by AFLP will start properly based on some preliminary work on this during the present reporting period. In Area 2 (Host Resistance) the experiments started in the first 6-months period will be continued. At the end of the first year the first preliminary results on evaluation of different methods to select for resistance are expected. In area 3 (Detection and risk assessment) after designing a standardised sampling method the development of prototypes for a new Andersen air sampler will start. At the end of month 12 the second general meeting will be organised and first years results as well as plans for the next year will be discussed

A homepage (website) for the project will be set up.

Discussion

The project started two months later than expected, but except for some small problems with the timely start of experiments and the planning of the first general meeting, this caused no serious problems. Progress in each of the research areas has been good, with activities proceeding as planned. The only delay is in Area 3 where the preparation of prototypes has been delayed by six months. This however is expected to cause no problems for a timely conclusion of this part of the work.