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

Project description

Novel solutions to containing viral diseases in crops

Every year, several billion euro worth of vegetable crops are lost due to viral diseases and the emergence of new viruses in European fields and greenhouses. Furthermore, viral diseases also lead to the extensive use of pesticides, thereby exposing European growers and consumers to pesticide residues. The EU-funded VIRTIGATION project will address this challenge, developing solutions to emerging viral diseases caused by begomoviruses (whitefly-transmitted) and tobamoviruses (mechanically transmitted) in cucurbits and tomatoes in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. The initiative will also take into account the diversity of vegetable cropping systems and viral diseases through focus groups involving extension services, commercial companies and growers to help co-design research activities and mitigation strategies from the onset of the project.

Objective

Viral diseases can cause severe losses to vegetable crop production which has an estimated annual value of 34,5 billion EUR in Europe. Therefore several billions are lost every year due to the prominence of viral diseases and the emergence of new viruses in European fields and greenhouses. Importantly viral diseases also lead to the extensive use of pesticides, thereby exposing European growers and consumers to pesticide residues.
In relation to the work programme, the project aims at developing rapid and lasting solutions to emerging viral diseases caused by begomoviruses (whitefly-transmitted) and tobamoviruses (mechanically transmitted) on cucurbits and tomato in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin as well as at increasing knowledge to better control and manage the viral diseases.
The project is structured in 6 objectives :
1. Knowledge sharing and engagement of stakeholders in research activities (Short term impact)
2. Develop robust diagnostic tests, quarantine measures and identify ecological factors driving disease outbreaks (Short term impact)
3. Understand plant-virus(es)-vector interactions (Medium term impact)
4. Develop IPM solutions (Medium term impact)
5. Pyramidize natural resistance (Long term impact)
6. Train the value chain (Medium term impact)

The objectives will build on 1) detailed study of virus biology and transmission under climate change conditions; 2) development of classical solutions (IPM and natural resistance) to control viral diseases with two distinct modes of transmission; 3) testing novel approaches (biopesticides, biological control, cross-protection) to mitigate viral diseases and to reduce pesticide usage.

In order to take into account the diversity of vegetable cropping systems and viral diseases, focus groups involving extension services, commercial companies and growers will help co-designing research activities and mitigation strategies from the onset of the project.

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Keywords

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-SFS-2018-2020

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Coordinator

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 937 938,75
Address
OUDE MARKT 13
3000 Leuven
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 962 938,75

Participants (24)

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