Project description DEENESFRITPL Diagnosing banana diseases in the field The banana plant is threatened by various diseases, which lead to significant yield losses in banana fruit production worldwide. Given that bananas are the most consumed fruit in Europe, the EU-funded INDICANTS project proposes to develop a number of tools that can be used directly on site to diagnose banana diseases caused by bacteria or fungi. In particular, a point of care diagnostics kit capable of detecting multiple pathogens at once is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of surveillance and plant disease management. The project's deliverables can be immediately implemented to improve the productivity of bananas and ensure food security. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Bananas are major staple in developing countries and the most eaten fruit in Europe. Global banana production is constrained by several diseases that are responsible for yield losses and low productivity of bananas and severely compromise food security. Particularly banana production is seriously threatened by four vascular diseases, Fusarium wilt disease of banana caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc), Moko and banana blood diseases, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and R. syzygii subsp. celebesensis, respectively) and Xanthomonas wilt of banana caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum. Efficiency of surveillance and plant disease management requires the availability of Point of care (POC) diagnostics that can be operated directly on site. INDICANTS project focuses on (i) the development of a low-cost multi-pathogens LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification) detection kit, and its validation via an interlaboratory test and field surveys. (ii) the evaluation of an emergent technology (CRISPR/Cas12a) for the diagnosis of Foc. (iii) the test of an innovative microneedle patch for DNA extraction from plant. This project relies on a two-way transfer of knowledge and expertise between the applicant and Stellenbosch University: the applicant will access to areas where the diseases are present, will acquire through hands-on training and training-through-research, new expertise and skills in genetics/biotechnology, thereby strengthening the future career prospects. The partner organisation will gain experience and knowledge on bacterial banana diseases and LAMP method. Actions of protection and exploitation of the outputs will be set up, with the involvement of an industrial partner. Besides the scientific publications and conferences, the results will be disseminated to different audiences: the general public (website, press and TV), plant protection services (workshops) MSc students (lectures), schoolchildren (Platform visits). Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protectionmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineangiologyvascular diseasesagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionmedical and health sciencesclinical medicinehematology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinator CENTRE DE COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE EN RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE POUR LEDEVELOPPEMENT - C.I.R.A.D. EPIC Net EU contribution € 219 050,88 Address Rue scheffer 42 75016 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY South Africa Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Victoria street administration b building 7600 Stellenbosch See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 120 696,96
