EMERGING VIRAL DISEASES IN TOMATOES AND CUCURBITS: IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR DURABLE DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Project Information

VIRTIGATION

Grant agreement ID: 101000570

DOI

10.3030/101000570

Project closed

EC signature date 6 May 2021

Start date 1 June 2021

End date 30 November 2025

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 7 396 858,90

EU contribution

€ 6 998 668,34

Coordinated by

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Belgium

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Links to deliverables and publications from FP7 projects, as well as links to some specific result types such as dataset and software, are dynamically retrieved from OpenAIRE .

Deliverables

Documents, reports (9)

Map of key genes involved in plant response to viral infections

A list of target genes will be compiled for future development of molecular markers and breeding activities in order to develop vegetable accessions with robust virus resistance.

Report on integrated approaches for control of whiteflies, geminivirus and tobamovirus

A report describing the integrated approaches combining the most successful methods (Tasks 5.1 until 5.4) to control whiteflies, geminivirus and tobamovirus will be produced, incorporating the results of trials performed in semi-commercial conditions to evaluate their usefulness.

Meta study on the evolution of viruses to cause disease epidemics

Summary of the mechanisms used by viruses to jump from one host to the other will be understood. Results will be published in scientific journals for the benefit of the wider scientific community.

Protocols for full genome sequencing

Protocols for full genome sequencing of begomoviruses and tobamoviruses from the collected samples are made available.

Policy document on the role of seed transmission on viral disease spread to Europe

A policy document will be prepared on the role of seed transmission in the movement of novel viruses to Europe through the importation of vegetable seeds. The threat they pose to European vegetable production will be outlined. The document will be submitted to EPPO and national seed certification agencies for a possible update on EU policy on seed importation to Europe.

Virus diversity and factors associated with pandemics

List of factors and isolates associated with introduction and dissemination will be released based on the analysis of samples (D2.2) using Genome Detective Tool (D2.4).

Molecular markers for whitefly resistance

Markers will consist of DNA sequences targeting the main resistance genes or QTLs identified. Markers can be used for introgression breeding in order to develop whitefly resistant varieties and to stack whitefly resistance QTLs with virus resistance genes. Markers will be available for breeding companies.

Report on the effects of climate change on the current and future spread of viral diseases in Europe

Technical report on the influence of climate change on virus vector interaction for viruses such as ToLCNDV. This information will be transferred to policymakers and, especially to breeding companies in order to adapt their plant breeding strategies. Results of WP2 will be included for the holistic assessment of climate change effects on potential risks of virus-based diseases.

Report on the risks of multiple infections for resistance and strategies of virus control

Results of Task T4.6 will be compiled, describing the outcome of challenges with chosen mixed infections both in confined infrastructures and in semi-commercial conditions under various environmental temperatures (see WP5).

Demonstrators, pilots, prototypes (3)

Defined tomato plant resistant to TYLCV and beta satellite

Tomato germplasm with resistance to both TYLCV and beta-satellites, developed in T3.1 will be available for seed companies and for growers, and for testing for resistance to ToLCNDV in T3.1.

Defined ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties

ToBRFV resistant varieties, isolated in T3.1 will serve first for generating resistant rootstocks that can be implemented in grafted plants that can be further studied in WP5. In T3.1 these varieties will be further used for introgression studies for domesticating new tomato varieties.

Defined ToLCNDV-resistant tomato

Tomato germplasm with ToLCNDV resistance, developed in task 3.1 will be available for seed companies and growers.

Other (1)

Genome Detective Platform adapted for plant viruses

Software system adapted to store the descriptors of D2.1, to facilitate sample collection. Release of the modified version of Genome Detective virus tool to support the wetlab protocols researched in D2.3 (such as improved ONT sequencing protocols) from virus-infected samples, linked to the database system D2.2. Release of the first version of Genome Detective Platform supporting analysis algorithms supporting D2.5 and D2.6 and the data sharing protocols.

Publications

Peer reviewed articles (17)

Changes in longevity, parasitization rate and development time of the whitefly parasitoid Encarsia formosa under future climate conditions

Author(s): Milenovic, M., Ripamonti, M., Eickermann, M., Junk, J., & Rapisarda, C.
Published in: Biological Control, 2023, ISSN 1049-9644
Publisher: Academic Press
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105354

A Novel ToBRFV cDNA Full-Length Infectious Clone Provides Insights on Virus-Host Range and Inoculation Strategies

Author(s): Mareike J. Rohde, Annette Niehl, Heiko Ziebell
Published in: Plant Disease, Issue 109, 2025, Page(s) 2123-2134, ISSN 0191-2917
Publisher: American Phytopathological Society
DOI: 10.1094/pdis-08-24-1665-re

Tm-1 back in business: an allele from Solanum pennellii accessions plays a major role in ToBRFV resistance

Author(s): Romanos Zois, Mireille van Damme, Martin Verbeek, Luuk D. H. Veenendaal, Yuling Bai, Anne-Marie A. Wolters
Published in: Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Issue 138, 2025, ISSN 0040-5752
Publisher: Springer Verlag
DOI: 10.1007/s00122-025-05036-1

Enhanced Susceptibility to Tomato Chlorosis Virus (ToCV) in Hsp90- and Sgt1-Silenced Plants: Insights from Gene Expression Dynamics

Author(s): Ontiveros, I., Fernández-Pozo, N., Esteve-Codina, A., López-Moya, J. J., & Díaz-Pendón, J. A.
Published in: Viruses, 2023, ISSN 1999-4915
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/v15122370

Eggsplorer: a rapid plant–insect resistance determination tool using an automated whitefly egg quantification algorithm

Author(s): Devi, M. G., Arcega Rustia, D. J., Braat, L., Swinkels, K., Fornaguera Espinosa, F., van Marrewijk, B. M., Hemming, J., & Caarls, L.
Published in: Plant Methods, 2023, ISSN 1746-4811
Publisher: BioMed Central
DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01027-9

Studying tomato brown rugose fruit virus longevity in soil and virion susceptibility to pH treatments helped improve virus control by soil disinfection

Author(s): Molad, O., Smith, E., Luria, N., Bakelman, E., Lachman, O., Reches, M., & Dombrovsky, A.
Published in: Plant and Soil, 2024, ISSN 0032-079X
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-024-06690-y

Can Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) Mitigate the Damage Caused to Plants by Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)?

Author(s): Farina, A., Cocuzza, G., Suma, P., & Rapisarda, C
Published in: Insects, 2023, ISSN 2075-4450
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/insects14020164

A review of factors affecting the success of geminivirus infectious clones

Author(s): S. R. Möller, M. N. Maruthi
Published in: Plant Cell Reports, Issue 44, 2025, ISSN 0721-7714
Publisher: Springer Verlag
DOI: 10.1007/s00299-025-03560-4

Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus Spain Strain Is Not Transmitted by Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Is Inefficiently Transmitted by Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean between Zucchini and the Wild Cucurbit Ecballium elaterium

Author(s): Farina, A., Rapisarda, C., Fiallo-Olivé, E., & Navas-Castillo, J.
Published in: Insects, 2023, ISSN 2075-4450
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/insects14040384

A brief review on the emerging tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) infecting cucurbits in the Mediterranean Basin

Author(s): Atiwich Patthamapornsirikul, Cécile Desbiez, Wanwisa Siriwan, Eric Verdin
Published in: European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2025, ISSN 0929-1873
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
DOI: 10.1007/s10658-025-03149-3

Directions from Nature: How to Halt the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus

Author(s): Van Damme, M., Zois, R., Verbeek, M., Bai, Y., & Wolters, A.-M. A.
Published in: Agronomy, 2023, ISSN 2073-4395
Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13051300

Begomoviruses: what is the secret(s) of their success?

Author(s): Fiallo-Olivé, E., & Navas-Castillo, J
Published in: Trends in Plant Science, 2023, ISSN 1360-1385
Publisher: Elsevier BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.01.012

A method for in-depth analysis of circular DNA virus populations by unambiguously profiling the low abundant virus variants and partial genomic components

Author(s): Victor Golyaev, Sam Dierickx, Koen Deforche, Wim Dumon, Hervé Vanderschuren
Published in: Nucleic Acids Research, Issue 53, 2025, ISSN 0305-1048
Publisher: Oxford University Press
DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaf221

Longevity of the whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus under two different climate scenarios

Author(s): Milenovic, M., Ripamonti, M., Eickermann, M., Junk, J., & Rapisarda, C
Published in: Phytoparasitica, 2023, ISSN 0334-2123
Publisher: Priel Publishers
DOI: 10.1007/s12600-023-01088-5

Geographic distribution of Bemisia tabaci species in Sicily and patterns in facultative endosymbiont community composition

Author(s): Milenovic, M., Cocuzza, G., Suma, P., & Farina, A.
Published in: Journal of Applied Entomology, 2023, ISSN 0931-2048
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Inc.
DOI: 10.1111/jen.13183

To Be Seen or Not to Be Seen: Latent Infection by Tobamoviruses

Author(s): Rohde, Mareike J., Ilyas, Rabia, Richert-Pöggeler, Katja R., & Ziebell, Heiko
Published in: Plants, 2022, ISSN 2223-7747
Publisher: MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/plants11162166

Solanum elaeagnifolium and S. rostratum as potential hosts of the tomato brown rugose fruit virus

Author(s): Dombrovsky, A., Smith, E., Matzrafi, M., Abu-Nassar, J., Klap, C., & Shtarkman, M.
Published in: PLOS ONE, 2023, ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282441

Book chapters (1)

Vertical transmission of tomato viruses

Author(s): Natasa Mehle, Adrian Fox, Antonio Tiberini, Heiko Ziebell
Published in: Advances in Virus Research, 2025, Page(s) 105-168
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1016/bs.aivir.2025.08.003

Intellectual Property Rights

Trademark (1)

Genome Detective

Application/Publication number: Application No. 18892413 Registration No 18892413
Date: 2023-06-23
Applicant(s): EMWEB