Project description
Molecular insight into plant viruses promotes sustainable agriculture
Viruses pose a significant threat to plants and agriculture worldwide as they may reduce crop yields. Combating viral diseases requires pest management strategies and sustainable agriculture practices that avoid the overuse of pesticides. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the HealthyPlants project will assist the diagnosis of plant viral diseases by conducting the first comprehensive survey of cultivated plant viruses in Ireland. Using high-throughput sequencing, researchers will build the first database of plant virus sequences paving the way for the design of superior diagnostic tools. The project aligns with the European Commission’s ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy to reduce the use of pesticides and adopt alternative and sustainable approaches towards safer and healthier foods.
Objective
Plant viruses continue to be one of the main threats to European agriculture, exacerbated by climate change, evolution of pesticide resistance, and loss of crop protection chemistries. Europe has ambitions of creating a more sustainable food system with a goal of reducing pesticide usage by 50% by 2030 as part of the European Farm to Fork Strategy. Achieving these goals requires robust integrated pest-management (IPM) approaches and real-time decision support systems (DSS) for farmers. In disease management there is a strong reliance on rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tools built on a clear understanding of viral diversity. HealthyPlants will use high-throughput sequencing to (i) complete the first systematic survey of viruses of cultivated plants in Ireland and establish a baseline upon which to build improved diagnostic tools, (ii) establish the importance of arable margins and hedgerows as cereal virus reservoirs, and (iii) identify viruses on newly imported crops with potential phytosanitary risks. HealthyPlants will deliver the first database of viral sequences of cultivated plants on the island of Ireland, an open-access platform to support development of robust diagnostics within Europe.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirology
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscereals
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
R93 Carlow
Ireland