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Content archived on 2024-04-30

Epidemiological studies for control of clavibacter michiganensis subsp sepedonicus, the causative agent of bacterial ring rot in potato

Objective

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Sepedonicus (Cms), the causal organism of bacterial ring rot of potato, poses serious economic risks to the potato industry within the EU. The current ring rot outbreaks in the different countries of the EU cost circa 15 MECU per year due to eradication campaigns, increased research and development and compensation to growers. Epidemiological data required to control bacterial ring rot once established are lacking. This project lays the scientific basis for the development and improvement of measures for control and eradication of Cms. In the first year the instruments will be developed to enable detailed epidemiological studies. This will include the selection of a representative panel of Cms strains, for which the genetical and phenotypical diversity will be assessed with fatty acid profiling, biolog, DNA fingerprinting methods and by testing the aggressiveness. To track Cms in complex natural environments, marked strains will be developed, including antibiotic resistant strains and strains marked with a luciferase or green fluorescent protein. Cultivation based and modern non-cultivation based methods, such as PCR-amplification, targeting DNA, and NASBA-amplification, targeting RNA, will be adapted and fine-tuned for reliable detection of Cms. In the next three years, complementary microcosm studies and field experiments will be done, determining the persistence, growth and dissemination of Cms in the potato cropping ecosystem under various environmental conditions. The fate of Cms in soil and water and the risk for infection of the potato crops from these infested substrates will be assessed. The survival on potato tuber surfaces will be determined and the internal colonization, in in vitro potato plants, minitubers and seed potatoes using potato cultivars with a different tolerance towards Cms. The fate of Cms in the rhizosphere and in the vascular system of non-host; crops grown in rotation with potato, weeds commonly found on potato field and weeds growing along water streams will be assessed. The survival of Cms on farm equipment and materials will be studied, to assess the risk for carry-over contamination. In close relation with the other studies, the possible existence of cells in a viable but non-culturable state will be assessed and the processes leading to this survival state elucidated, using methods determining cellular integrity, respiration and methods targeting RNA. Such cells will escape cultivation based detection methods which may lead to erroneous conclusions. The results will form the basis for recommendations on practical measures to be taken by Plant Health Authorities and farmers to eradicate the organism, to prevent its establishment and to avoid dissemination.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

DLO RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR PLANT PROTECTION
EU contribution
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Address
Binnenhaven 5
6700 WAGENINGEN
Netherlands

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Total cost

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Participants (5)

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