rev. 4/20/2001

Supported by EC

Project FAIR5 PL97-3889

HEALTH CERTIFICATION OF ROSACEOUS SPECIES
BASED ON DISEASE-INDEXING OF IN VITRO PLANTS:
VALIDATION OF DIAGNOSTICS AND DIAGNOSTIC STRATEGIES


Participants

Background

OBJECTIVES



The objectives of the project are the development of rapid, reliable, user-friendly, sensitive and cost effective methods for the detection of the major Rosaceous (strawberry and fruit tree) viruses and phytoplasmas, to be used in tissue culture laboratories involved in the production of certified elite propagation material.

  1. Development of broad specificity assays using molecular biological techniques for detection of the ubiquitous group of filamentous viruses in fruit trees: By similar methodology this issue will be extended to investigate diseases of so far unknown etiology in fruit trees. Development of broad specificity assays for the genus of nematode-transmitted viruses including options for pathogen identification. Optimisation of existing molecular diagnostic methods for specific and broad spectrum pathogen detection (especially isometric or bacilliform viruses and phytoplasma).

  2. Validation of new molecular biological diagnostic methods for large scale testing of in vitro plants

  3. Investigation on pathogen-host plant interactions, to assess the best sampling strategy

  4. Improvement of protocols for the in vitro elimination of recalcitrant pathogens

  5. Selection of pathogen free/ pathogen tested in vitro elite plants

  6. Coordination and diffusion, with establishment of draft suggested guidelines for the certification of micropropagated plants. (All results obtained from the project will be collected in a booklet).

Tasks and expected Results

This project is coordinated by a.Univ. Prof. Dr. Margit Laimer da Câmara Machado , Institute of Applied Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Vienna, Austria.


1/12/99 by Siegfried Huss