Annual progress report - Cost 873

Monitoring Progress Report – 2009
COST 873 – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts
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A BAN fact-sheet draft has been prepared and further research efforts are underway to obtain a
disease description suitable for all differing parties. The results from this COST873 STF are being
prepared for a joint publication in 2010.
The efforts on BAN and Walnut Blight forecasting have been successfully integrated with field trials
having been conducted in France, Spain and Austria. Data was presented at the annual meeting and will
continue to be coordinated in 2010.
A second STF is working with the CoP to develop a walnut disease forecasting model and
integrating this into walnut production systems. The aim is to integrate control options into the model
as well, and SME industries (biocontrol/chemical, grower cooperatives) are included in this STF. Field
research to collect essential epidemiological data has begun in FR and IT with input from CH and AT.
A large French-Spanish project was funded in cooperation with industry in 2008 to work on a
walnut blight forecasting model. In 2009, an important addition to our efforts was the recruitment of
K. Evans from Australia, and the formal membership into COST873. She will join COST873 field
studies in Europe through an STSM in Summer 2010.
A third STF has begun to work on developing a disease forecasting model for Xap on stone fruits,
and multi-national surveys have begun to ascertain the distribution of this pathogen outside of ES and
IT where it is currently thought to be limited. Strains collected are being genotyped to assist in
determining spread.
National surveys for the presence of regulated pathogens (e.g., A2 List Xanthomonas arboricola
pv. pruni), prevalence and damage from other bacteria (e.g., Brennaria, Pseudomonas, Erwinia,
Agrobacterium) and a survey to verify an isolated 1 st -in-Europe report from Kosovo of the A1 List
Xylella fastidiosa were conducted in most countries of COST873 by or in consultation with COST873
experts. Surveys in Serbia, have involved 2 programs 2008-2009 aimed to check quarantine status of
X.a. pruni and P.s. persicae respectively financed by National Plant Protection Directorate. As a result
these two pathogens will remain on national A1 list of quarantine pathogens in 2009. Most of these
survey activities were the direct result of efforts from WG2, and would not necessarily have been
conducted without COST873 involvement. Surveys in Greece, surveys have resulted in the
preparation of an overview of bacterial pathogens affecting stone fruits and nut crops and their
geographical distribution (maps). These are being enriched based on diagnostic records from Benaki
Phytopathological Institute. Stone fruits orchards and nurseries as well as walnut and hazelnut orchards
were monitored.
Extensive surveys in Poland in 2008-2009 were conducted for bacterial canker of stone fruit trees.
Isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and pv. morsprunorum were characterized
phenotypically (LOPAT and GATTa tests) and genetically (REP-PCRs, detection of genes coding for
toxins) in COST873 STSMs. Nurseries of stone fruit trees were checked for the presence of crown gall
and hairy root. Over 200 Agrobacterium sp. isolates were characterized phenotypically (biochemical
features and pathogenicity) and genetically (RAPD, pTi possessing) in COST873 STSMs. Symptoms
of bacterial blight on walnuts and hazelnuts were observed and the first reports of Xanthomonas
arboricola pv. corylina on hazelnut and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis on walnut in Poland
were confirmed.
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