Low-cost control of olive disease in Europe
Verticillium dahliae (VD), a soil-borne pathogen, is the greatest threat to the productivity of the EU's olive sector. The disease affects yield in many crop species, including olives, and in recent years outbreaks have been occurring with increasing frequency. Conventional methods of detection are complex and slow, and require trained technicians. Thus, the EU funded the project VERTIGEEN(opens in new window) (Inexpensive and reliable on-site solution for olive oil producers to contain Verticillium wilt), which aimed to develop a rapid, on-site system for VD detection. The resulting system is affordable, rapid and easy to use. The team initially surveyed the European market's requirements for VD detection. The information obtained from small and medium-sized enterprises in four countries helped tailor the device to the sector's needs. The information also dictated the VERTIGEEN business plan. Protocols for sample collection and processing were defined for soil and plant samples. Researchers compared other processing methods and examined the effects of seasonality on the process. The project settled on loop-mediated isothermal amplification, a technique that amplifies small pieces of DNA to allow easy detection of specific DNA fragments. VERTIGEEN then developed a disposable system that can be used in the field, including a polymer reaction tube and printed electrodes. The VERTIGEEN project has yielded a system for olive growers to test for VD at a cost less than USD 1 000. This will allow growers to minimise infection risks and outbreaks, and maximise yield and competitiveness.
