Annual progress report - Cost 873

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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009 COST 873 – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts _________________________________________________________________________________ Some examples of these contacts in 2008 and 2009: CH- USA Biocontrol company – Northwest Agricultural Products; BIOREBA diagnostic company IT/CH- Biocontrol company – AgriFutura FR - Tradecorp, Syngenta, Certis, ActionPin, Andermatt Biocontrol, BMS micronutrients, Cerexagri, Compo France, Duclos, Force A, Goëmar, Phalippou-Frayssinet, Goëmar, NuFarm Planned activities 2010: Develop COST873 joint activities with FP7 KBBE Q-Detect & Q-BOL projects. A European research proposal to develop and implement a walnut blight forecasting model is intended for submission in 2010. Another CoP meeting is planned for 2010 to bring together key stakeholders and researchers from COST873 to transfer needs/knowledge and develop an applied research plan for the Action. II.A.b. Working Group 1: Diagnostics and Early Detection This WGs main aim is to develop and validate methods and protocols for diagnosing and detecting COST873 pathogens in the field and diagnostic clinic. The focus is on simple methodologies that can be implemented with minimal training (for use by phytosanitary inspectors) and where possible in the field. One highlight of this WG in the first year was the establishment of an STF to design a sensitive and specific method for the bacterial spot pathogen of stone fruits, Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap). This is a quarantine pathogen in Europe, but current methods are time-consuming and complicated. This activity involving in Spain, Switzerland, Italy and a USA partner designed the first PCR methods for this pathogen. COST873 scientists have been involved in identifying a new disease of horse chestnut (Aesculus spp, mainly A. hippocastanum), has emerged since 2002 in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK. Symptoms are dark, reddish-brown to black necrotic spots that develop into large patches on trunks and larger branches from which clear to red-brown sap exudes. Trees wilt, yellow and show bad growth, and eventually die. At first a fungal aetiology was suspected, but the so-called „bleeding canker‟ was found to be caused by a bacterium that is possibly P.s. pv. aesculi, described from A. indica in India (based on sequence of the gyrase B gene - Webber et al., 2007, British Soc. Pl. Pathol. New Disease Reports). The Dutch Plant Protection Service is involved in a national project of the inter-institutional working group Aesculaap, studying etiology, epidemiology, control and resistance breeding. Further information can be obtained from (www.kastanjeziekte.wur.nl). COST873 scientists at INRA (Angers and Bordeaux) elucidated the etiology of walnut vertical oozing canker (VOC). It was demonstrated that the causal agent was a distinct lineage within Xanthomonas arboricola pv juglandis (Xaj) that can be found in cankers and in leaves and fruits as well. Koch‟s postulates were fulfilled. 14
Monitoring Progress Report – 2009 COST 873 – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts _________________________________________________________________________________ The first molecular method for diagnosing bacterial spot of stone fruit (X.a. pv. pruni) has been developed in 2009 and is in the validation phase. The work is particularly significant given the expanding threat of this pathogen in Europe and its A2 List quarantine status. This is a cooperative effort between ES-IT-CH. Major advances were made in 2009 for the phylogenetic analysis and identification of Xanthomonas using single-locus sequencing (UK and New Zealand partners) and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (CH and industry partners). A major accomplishment in 2009 was the complete genome sequencing of X. a. pv. pruni. This is a cooperative effort with lead from CH and participation in terms of applied genomics from FR and DE. This is the first genome sequenced for this species, and will lay the groundwork for sequencing related pathovars juglandis and corylina for use in comparative genomics, evolution studies and diagnostics development. A grant has recently been approved (FR) for sequencing pathovar juglandis. A first-ever datasheet on Pseudomonas avellanae has been produced by J.D. Janse and M. Scortichini and has been published on the website of COST 873. A new STF is being established to focus on the special-agent Xylella fastidiosa. A Training Course on Xylella is planned for October 2010 specifically to build European know-how with this recalcitrant but highest-priority threat organism. Planned activities 2010: Finish the Xap genome and the Xaj genome. Exploit this data for applied genomics (e.g., pathogen diagnostics, virulence analysis, inoculum source tracking). Develop a COST873 bacterial culture collection. Training courses for Pseudomonas and Xylella.. II.A.c. Working Group 2: Epidemiology and Disease Forecasting This WG‟s main aims are to elucidate disease etiology, understand disease epidemiology, and apply this to development of usable disease forecasting systems. Several STFs were established to achieve these aims. One STF has linked the leading research groups in Europe (ES, IT) working on a new disease causing severe losses in walnut, brown apical necrosis (BAN). Heated controversy surrounds BAN with the etiology uncertain, but diversely attributed to bacterial, fungal or a complex of these. Firmly establishing the cause of BAN is critical to surveying all European walnut areas for this disease, for integrating BAN into the walnut blight disease forecasting model (see below) and for developing resistance/controls for the disease. 15
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Annual progress report - Cost 873

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