Annual progress report - Cost 873
Annual progress report - Cost 873
Annual progress report - Cost 873
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
COST<br />
Domain Committee "Food and Agriculture"<br />
COST Action <strong>873</strong><br />
Bacterial diseases of stone fruits and nuts<br />
MONITORING<br />
PROGRESS REPORT<br />
Period: 20/12/2006 to 31/12/2009<br />
This Report is presented to the relevant Domain Committee and contains two<br />
parts:<br />
I. Management Report prepared by the COST Office<br />
II. Scientific Report prepared by the Chair of the Management Committee<br />
of the Action<br />
1
Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
I. Management Report<br />
I.A. COST Action Fact Sheet<br />
Action <strong>873</strong> Fact Sheet<br />
Title<br />
Bacterial diseases of stone fruits and nuts<br />
Contacts<br />
MC Chair Science Officer: Administrative Officer:<br />
Dr Brion DUFFY<br />
Tel. +41 44 7836416<br />
Fax. +41 44 7836305<br />
brion.duffy@acw.admin.ch<br />
Mr Albino MAGGIO<br />
COST Office<br />
amaggio@cost.esf.org<br />
Christophe PEETERS<br />
COST Office<br />
cpeeters@cost.esf.org<br />
+32 2 533 38 43<br />
Details<br />
Draft Mou: Mou: 266/06<br />
Start of Action: 20/12/2006 Entry into force: 09/10/2006<br />
End of Action: 19/12/2011 CSO approval date: 27/06/2006<br />
Objectives<br />
The Action aims at developing strategies to prevent biological invasion and spread of bacterial diseases<br />
of stone fruits and nuts that will be used for the design of integrated approaches for plant health<br />
management.<br />
Parties<br />
Country Date Country Date Country Date Country Date<br />
Austria 17/04/2007 Belgium 03/10/2006 Bulgaria 29/06/2007 Czech<br />
Republic<br />
21/11/2006<br />
Denmark 06/10/2006 France 29/11/2006 Germany 27/09/2006 Greece 21/12/2006<br />
Hungary 10/10/2006 Israel 10/10/2006 Italy 08/11/2006 Latvia 03/11/2006<br />
Lithuania 30/11/2006 Netherlands 24/10/2007 Norway 25/06/2009 Poland 10/10/2006<br />
Portugal 27/06/2008 Romania 09/01/2008 Serbia 24/10/2007 Slovenia 13/10/2006<br />
Spain 09/10/2006 Switzerland 12/12/2006 Turkey 22/01/2007 United<br />
Kingdom<br />
Total: 24<br />
27/09/2006<br />
Intentions to accept the MoU<br />
Country Date Country Date Country Date Country Date<br />
Total: 0<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Participating Institutions from non-COST countries<br />
Australia<br />
University of Tasmania<br />
New Zealand<br />
HortResearch Ruakura Research Centre<br />
New Zealand<br />
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd<br />
South Africa<br />
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute<br />
(FABI)<br />
Lebanon<br />
American University of Beirut<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Working Groups<br />
WG 1: Diagnostics and Early Detection<br />
WG 2: Prevention and Epidemiology<br />
WG 3: Host Resistance and Breeding<br />
WG 4: Control Strategies<br />
Website<br />
http://www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
I.B. Management Committee member list<br />
Management Committee<br />
Chair Vice Chair DC Rapporteur<br />
Dr Brion DUFFY<br />
Agroscope FAW WadenswilBacteriology<br />
Postfach 185, Schloss 8820 Wadenswil<br />
Switzerland<br />
brion.duffy@acw.admin.ch<br />
Dr David COATES<br />
Academia Europaea (The Academy of<br />
Europe) 21, Albemarle Street W1S 4HS<br />
London United Kingdom<br />
execsec@acadeuro.org<br />
Austria<br />
Dr Heinrich DENZER<br />
MC Member<br />
Pessl Instruments GmbHR&D Werksweg 107 8160 Weiz Austria<br />
heiner.denzer@metos.at<br />
Dr Heidrun HALBWIRTH<br />
MC Member<br />
technical University of Vienna Getreidemarkt 9/1665 Vienna<br />
Austria<br />
hhalb@mail.zserv.tuwien.ac.at<br />
Belgium<br />
Dr Alain BULTREYS<br />
MC Member<br />
Centre Wallon de Recherches Agronomiques Chaussee de<br />
Charleroi 234 5030 Gembloux Belgium<br />
bultreys@cra.wallonie.be<br />
Czech Republic<br />
Mr Jaroslav HORKY<br />
MC Member<br />
State Phytosanitary Administration of Czech RepublicDivision of<br />
Diagnostics Slechtitelu 23 77900 Olomouc Czech Republic<br />
jaroslav.horky@srs.cz<br />
Denmark<br />
Dr Charlotte THRANE<br />
MC Member<br />
Danish Plant DirectorateDiagnostic Laboratory Skovbrynet 20<br />
2800 Lyngby Denmark<br />
cht@pdir.dk<br />
Dr Bjarne Hjelmsted PEDERSEN<br />
MC Member<br />
Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences Kirstinebjergvej 10 5792<br />
Arslev Denmark<br />
BjarneH.Pedersen@agrsci.dk<br />
France<br />
Dr Frederic LAIGRET<br />
Mr Michel GIRAUD<br />
MC Member<br />
MC Member<br />
Unite de Recherches sur les Especes Fruitieres et la VigneInstitut Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Legumes 22<br />
National de la Recherche Afronmique 71 Av Edouard Bourleaux Rue Bergere 75009 Paris France<br />
33883 Villenave dOrnon France<br />
giraud@ctifl.fr<br />
laigret@bordeaux.inra.fr<br />
Dr Charles MANCEAU<br />
MC Substitute Member<br />
INRAUMR PaVe BP 60057, 42 rue Georges Morel 49071<br />
Beaucouze France<br />
charles.manceau@angers.inra.fr<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Germany<br />
Professor Wilhelm JELKMANN<br />
MC Member<br />
Julius Khn Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated<br />
Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture<br />
Schwabenheimer Str. 101 69221 Dossenheim Germany<br />
Wilhelm.Jelkmann@jki.bund.de<br />
Greece<br />
Dr John TSIANTOS<br />
MC Member<br />
NAGREFPlant Protection Institute of Volos Fytoko 38001 Volos<br />
Greece<br />
instfyt@hol.gr<br />
Hungary<br />
Dr Andrzej PEDRYC<br />
MC Member<br />
Faculty of Horticulture ScienceCorvinus University of Budapest<br />
Villanyi ut. 29-43 1118 Budapest Hungary<br />
andrzej.pedryc@uni-corvinus.hu<br />
Professor Fotios GRAVANIS<br />
MC Member<br />
School of Agricultural TechnologyTechnological Education<br />
Institute (T.E.I.) of Larissa N/A - Please update this record 41110<br />
Larissa Greece<br />
gravanis@teilar.gr<br />
Professor Sandor SULE<br />
MC Member<br />
Hungarian Academy of SciencePlant Protection Institute of the<br />
HAS Herman Otto 15. 1022 Budapest Hungary<br />
ssule@nki.hu<br />
Israel<br />
Dr Shulamit MANULIS<br />
MC Member<br />
Agricultural Research OrganizationThe Volcani CenterInstitute of<br />
Plant Protection POB 6 50250 Bet-Gagan Israel<br />
shulam@volcani.agri.gov.il<br />
Italy<br />
Dr Marco SCORTICHINI<br />
MC Member<br />
CRA-Centro di Ricerca per la frutticoltura Via di Fioranello 52<br />
00134 Roma Italy<br />
mscortichini@yahoo.it<br />
Professor Emilio STEFANI<br />
MC Member<br />
AcademicFacolta di AgrariaUniversita di Modena & Reggio Emilia<br />
via J.F. Kennedy, 17 42100 Reggio Emilia Italy<br />
stefani.emilio@unimore.it<br />
Latvia<br />
Dr Silvija RUISA<br />
MC Member<br />
Latvia State Institute of Fruit -Growing Graudu Str. 1 3701<br />
Dobele Latvia<br />
silvija.ruisa@lvai.lv<br />
Lithuania<br />
Ms Daiva BUROKIENE<br />
MC Member<br />
Laboratory of Phytopathogenic MicroorganismsInstitute of<br />
Botany Zaliuju Ezeru Str. 49 8406 Vilnius Lithuania<br />
daiva@botanika.lt<br />
Netherlands<br />
Dr Alexander R. BEUNINGEN<br />
MC Member<br />
LNV, Plant Protection Service N/A - Please update this record<br />
Wageningen Netherlands<br />
a.r.van.beuningen@minlnv.nl<br />
Dr Milda VASINAUSKIENE<br />
MC Member<br />
Laboratory of Phytopathogenic MicroorganismsInstitute of Botany<br />
N/A - Please update this record 8406 Vilnius Lithuania<br />
milda@botanika.lt<br />
Dr Jaap D. JANSE<br />
MC Member<br />
Plant Protection Service N/A - Please update this record<br />
Wageningen Netherlands<br />
j.d.janse@minlnv.nl<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
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Norway<br />
Dr Arild SLETTEN<br />
MC Member<br />
(pending)<br />
arild.sletten@bioforsk.no<br />
PENDING<br />
Poland<br />
Dr Sylwia JAFRA<br />
MC Member<br />
Intercollegiate Faculty of BiotechnologyUniversity of Gdansk &<br />
Medical University of Gdansk ul. Kladki 24 80-822 Gdansk Poland<br />
jafra@biotech.univ.gda.pl<br />
Portugal<br />
Dr Fernando TAVARES<br />
MC Member<br />
ResearchApplied and Cellular MicrobiologyInstitute for Molecular<br />
and Cell BiologyUniversity of Porto Rua Campo Alegre, 823<br />
4150-180 Porto Portugal<br />
ftavares@ibmc.up.pt<br />
Dr Joanna PULAWSKA<br />
MC Member<br />
Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture Pomologiczna 18<br />
96-100 Skierniewice Poland<br />
jpulaw@insad.pl<br />
Romania<br />
Dr Mihai BOTU<br />
MC Member<br />
Fruit Growing Research Extension Str. Calea lui Traian no. 464<br />
240273 Ramnicu Valcea Romania<br />
stpomvl@onix.ro<br />
Dr Beatrice Michaela IACOMI<br />
MC Substitute Member<br />
USAMVFaculty of AgricultureUniversity of Agriculture Sciences<br />
and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest 59, Bd. Marasti, sector 1<br />
11464 Bucharest Romania<br />
b.iacomi@yahoo.fr<br />
Dr Dorin Ioan SUMEDREA<br />
MC Member<br />
ICDP Maracineni N/A - Please update this record Pitesti Romania<br />
dsumedrea@yahoo.com<br />
Serbia<br />
Professor Aleksa OBRADOVIC<br />
MC Member<br />
Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of Belgrade Nemanjina 6<br />
Belgrade-Zemun Serbia<br />
aleksao@agrifaculty.bg.ac.yu<br />
Slovenia<br />
Dr Anita SOLAR<br />
MC Member<br />
Chair for Fruit GrowingBiotechnical FacultyUniversity Ljubljana<br />
Jamnikarjeva 101 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia<br />
anita.solar@email.si<br />
Ms Tanja DREO<br />
MC Member<br />
National Institute of Biology Vecna pot 111 1000 Ljubljana<br />
Slovenia<br />
tanja.dreo@nib.si<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
Spain<br />
Dr Diego FRUTOS TOMAS<br />
MC Member<br />
Instituto Murciano de Investigacin y Desarrollo Agrario y<br />
Alimentario Calle Mayor 30.150 Murcia Spain<br />
diego.frutos@carm.es<br />
Professor Maria Milagros LOPEZ<br />
MC Substitute Member<br />
Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias Apartado Oficial,<br />
Moncada 46113 Valencia Spain<br />
mlopez@ivia.es<br />
Switzerland<br />
Dr Bernard BLUM<br />
MC Member<br />
Agrometrix ICM / IBMA POBox 18 4009 Basel Switzerland<br />
agrometrix.blum@balcab.ch<br />
Ms Neus ALETA SOLER<br />
MC Member<br />
Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentries Torre Marimon,<br />
Producci Agroforestal E-08140 Caldes de Montbui Spain<br />
neus.aleta@irta.cat<br />
Turkey<br />
Professor Hatice OZAKTAN<br />
MC Member<br />
PhytopathologyFaculty of AgricultureEge University Bornova<br />
35100 Izmir Turkey<br />
hatice.ozaktan@ege.edu.tr<br />
United Kingdom<br />
Dr Angela BERRIE<br />
MC Member<br />
East Malling Research New Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BJ<br />
West Malling United Kingdom<br />
angela.berrie@emr.ac.uk<br />
Professor Adalet MISIRLI<br />
MC Member<br />
(pending)<br />
adalet.misirli@ege.edu.tr<br />
PENDING<br />
Dr John ELPHINSTONE<br />
MC Member<br />
Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) Sand Hutton<br />
YO41 1LZ York United Kingdom<br />
john.elphinstone@fera.gsi.gov.uk<br />
Non-COST Participants<br />
Australia<br />
Katherine EVANS<br />
University of Tasmania<br />
Kathy.Evans@dpiw.tas.gov.au<br />
New Zealand<br />
Dr Joel VANNESTE<br />
HortResearch Ruakura Research Centre<br />
JVanneste@hortresearch.co.nz<br />
Dr John YOUNG<br />
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd<br />
youngj@landcareresearch.co.nz<br />
South Africa<br />
Teresa COUTINHO<br />
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)<br />
teresa.coutinho@fabi.up.ac.za<br />
Lebanon<br />
Adib SAAD<br />
American University of Beirut<br />
asaad@aub.edu.lb<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
I.C. Overview of activities and expenditures<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
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II. Scientific <strong>report</strong> prepared by the Chair of the Management Committee of the Action<br />
II.A. Results achieved during the period 20/12/2006 to 31/12/2009<br />
Summary<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> momentum has continued to increase over the first 3 years, with high participant<br />
motivation and high research activity. The Action has maintained a focused approach to aggressively<br />
implement and accomplish all of our main objectives in 1) coordinated research, 2) building links<br />
between research and stakeholder sectors, and 3) integration of young and developing scientists. In<br />
2009, we geared up efforts to use COST<strong>873</strong> as a conduit for recruiting international know-how for<br />
improving European expertise in phytobacteriology and plant resistance. We have formalised such<br />
collaboration with membership of 5 non-COST country institutes. Coordinated research has been<br />
accomplished through the establishment of special task forces (STF) from a bottom-up approach<br />
based on participant initiative. STFs are an innovative instrument within COST<strong>873</strong>. The current STFs<br />
have created a foundation to link active research groups which target all of the 19 specific research<br />
objectives outlined in the MoU. This approach has proven to be a successful motivation tool to<br />
accomplish joint research objectives. These STFs have also fostered new collaboration between<br />
European research groups. COST<strong>873</strong> is increasingly becoming a „community‟, and it has been<br />
particularly beneficial for the integration and „lifting‟ of less-advanced groups.<br />
The satellite working group Committee of Practioners (CoP) established in COST<strong>873</strong> has proven to<br />
be an effective platform for technology transfer and integration of stakeholders (plant inspectors,<br />
industry, growers). To facilitate the implementation of COST<strong>873</strong> main objectives, a user-friendly<br />
website has enhanced communication among leading research groups in European phytobacteriology,<br />
and provided a comfortable entry portal for young scientists, stakeholders and marginalised/isolated<br />
scientists from new EU and candidate countries to integrate. The website www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch has<br />
become also become a resource for national phytosanitary authorities in Europe. Thus far, 16<br />
STSMs have been completed. Most of these were linked to STFs providing a structured framework for<br />
accomplishing research goals and enabling the ESRs to build longer-term relationships with<br />
experienced scientists in their field. COST<strong>873</strong> launched a new STSM program for improved and<br />
broader outreach by deploying senior scientists to conduct training on-site.<br />
Significant research advances have been made through collaborative COST<strong>873</strong> efforts. The complete<br />
genome sequencing Pantoea, a group of promising commercial biocontrol species, was accomplished.<br />
Genotypic comparison of biocontrol vs. clinical strains was completed and biosafety of the biocontrol<br />
agent established, fulfilling a major Task of COST<strong>873</strong> WG4. Transferring science for European policy<br />
regulating biopesticides has begun, including cooperation with the OECD. Field trials have been<br />
conducted in France, Italy and Switzerland through COST<strong>873</strong> and biocontrol industry cooperation.<br />
Two patents have been obtained for novel antibacterial compounds in WG4 (ES partner) and tests<br />
were started with these in 2009 in planta.<br />
The complete genome sequencing of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni was completed in<br />
cooperation between CH, FR, IT and sequencing is beginning for X.a. pv. juglandis. New groups with<br />
bioinformatics and genomics expertise have been recruited and Training Courses have been held to<br />
provide COST<strong>873</strong> ESRs with a vital edge in this emerging field. The first molecular diagnostic<br />
methods for X. arboricola pv. pruni were developed in 2009 by partners from IT, ES and CH. Novel<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
phylogentic and rapid identification technology using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was<br />
developed for Xanthomonas and will be expanded to other groups of phytopathogenic bacteria in 2009.<br />
This involves COST<strong>873</strong> cooperation with industry and newly recruited European bacteriologists.<br />
Advances in coordinating European stone fruit-nut germplasm resources have been made,<br />
involving international screening trials, training schools, database development, and budding<br />
cooperation with FAO/IPGIR, ISHS, and international genomics programs.<br />
II.A.a. Committee of Practioners<br />
The CoP (see below II.B.f.) was established with Dr. B. Blum (Vice-president of the International<br />
Biocontrol Manufacturers Association) as its head. A diverse group of stakeholders were recruited<br />
from grower cooperatives, plant protection organizations, industry (diagnostics, consulting,<br />
biocontrol/chemical) with the specific objective to ensure the seamless transfer of<br />
technology/information between the scientific and stakeholder arms of the Action.<br />
One highlight of the CoP activities in these first two years of COST<strong>873</strong> was to coordinate the<br />
cooperation between these stakeholders and researchers for the development of a walnut blight disease<br />
forecasting model. This is an economically-limiting disease throughout the European walnut<br />
production industry resulting in up to 70% yield loss. The current model developed in California has<br />
been tried in the past years, but has performed poorly under European conditions. An STF was<br />
established and a small-meeting of this group was held in Basel (CH). This STF has already begun to<br />
draft a EUREKA-EUROAgri+ research proposal with partners from CH, AT, FR, IT, TR, ES for<br />
submission in 2009.<br />
On May, 20-21, 2008, it was held a meeting of the CoP in Floirac, Lot, France, with participants of<br />
France, Switzerland, Italy and Spain to coordinate walnut research efforts between researchers in<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> and grower unions and industry.<br />
The CoP Head, B. Blum, has been active in providing policy input at the EU Commission, OECD<br />
and national Ministry level (e.g., Minister meetings in France) regarding biocontrol registration<br />
policy in Europe. This is a highly-important function critical for the future of commercial biological<br />
control in Europe. A stakeholder meeting of the COST<strong>873</strong> CoP was held in Brussels in 2009.<br />
Significant contacts with industry have been established and collaborations begun in 2009 through the<br />
CoP including efforts to initiate research funding opportunities at the National and EU levels. A large<br />
French-Spanish project was funded in cooperation with industry in 2008 and work on a walnut blight<br />
forecasting model was in high-gear in 2009. This effort has been expanded to include our new<br />
Australian participant K. Evans. She plans to use an STSM for cooperative field research in Europe in<br />
2010.<br />
Involving grower unions has been particularly successful. For example, National Working Group for<br />
alternative products in fruit pest and disease control was initiated in France by Ctifl linking various<br />
stakeholders including the French government, research institutes, fruit experimental stations, and<br />
organic grower groups.<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
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Some examples of these contacts in 2008 and 2009:<br />
CH- USA Biocontrol company – Northwest Agricultural Products; BIOREBA diagnostic company<br />
IT/CH- Biocontrol company – AgriFutura<br />
FR - Tradecorp, Syngenta, Certis, ActionPin, Andermatt Biocontrol, BMS micronutrients,<br />
Cerexagri, Compo France, Duclos, Force A, Goëmar, Phalippou-Frayssinet, Goëmar, NuFarm<br />
Planned activities 2010:<br />
Develop COST<strong>873</strong> joint activities with FP7 KBBE Q-Detect & Q-BOL projects.<br />
A European research proposal to develop and implement a walnut blight forecasting model is intended<br />
for submission in 2010.<br />
Another CoP meeting is planned for 2010 to bring together key stakeholders and researchers from<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> to transfer needs/knowledge and develop an applied research plan for the Action.<br />
II.A.b. Working Group 1: Diagnostics and Early Detection<br />
This WGs main aim is to develop and validate methods and protocols for diagnosing and detecting<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> pathogens in the field and diagnostic clinic. The focus is on simple methodologies that can<br />
be implemented with minimal training (for use by phytosanitary inspectors) and where possible in the<br />
field.<br />
One highlight of this WG in the first year was the establishment of an STF to design a sensitive and<br />
specific method for the bacterial spot pathogen of stone fruits, Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni<br />
(Xap). This is a quarantine pathogen in Europe, but current methods are time-consuming and<br />
complicated. This activity involving in Spain, Switzerland, Italy and a USA partner designed the first<br />
PCR methods for this pathogen.<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> scientists have been involved in identifying a new disease of horse chestnut (Aesculus spp,<br />
mainly A. hippocastanum), has emerged since 2002 in the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK.<br />
Symptoms are dark, reddish-brown to black necrotic spots that develop into large patches on trunks and<br />
larger branches from which clear to red-brown sap exudes. Trees wilt, yellow and show bad growth,<br />
and eventually die. At first a fungal aetiology was suspected, but the so-called „bleeding canker‟ was<br />
found to be caused by a bacterium that is possibly P.s. pv. aesculi, described from A. indica in India<br />
(based on sequence of the gyrase B gene - Webber et al., 2007, British Soc. Pl. Pathol. New Disease<br />
Reports). The Dutch Plant Protection Service is involved in a national project of the inter-institutional<br />
working group Aesculaap, studying etiology, epidemiology, control and resistance breeding. Further<br />
information can be obtained from (www.kastanjeziekte.wur.nl).<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> scientists at INRA (Angers and Bordeaux) elucidated the etiology of walnut vertical oozing<br />
canker (VOC). It was demonstrated that the causal agent was a distinct lineage within Xanthomonas<br />
arboricola pv juglandis (Xaj) that can be found in cankers and in leaves and fruits as well. Koch‟s<br />
postulates were fulfilled.<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
_________________________________________________________________________________<br />
The first molecular method for diagnosing bacterial spot of stone fruit (X.a. pv. pruni) has been<br />
developed in 2009 and is in the validation phase. The work is particularly significant given the<br />
expanding threat of this pathogen in Europe and its A2 List quarantine status. This is a cooperative<br />
effort between ES-IT-CH.<br />
Major advances were made in 2009 for the phylogenetic analysis and identification of Xanthomonas<br />
using single-locus sequencing (UK and New Zealand partners) and MALDI-TOF mass<br />
spectrometry (CH and industry partners).<br />
A major accomplishment in 2009 was the complete genome sequencing of X. a. pv. pruni. This is a<br />
cooperative effort with lead from CH and participation in terms of applied genomics from FR and DE.<br />
This is the first genome sequenced for this species, and will lay the groundwork for sequencing related<br />
pathovars juglandis and corylina for use in comparative genomics, evolution studies and diagnostics<br />
development. A grant has recently been approved (FR) for sequencing pathovar juglandis.<br />
A first-ever datasheet on Pseudomonas avellanae has been produced by J.D. Janse and M.<br />
Scortichini and has been published on the website of COST <strong>873</strong>.<br />
A new STF is being established to focus on the special-agent Xylella fastidiosa. A Training Course on<br />
Xylella is planned for October 2010 specifically to build European know-how with this recalcitrant but<br />
highest-priority threat organism.<br />
Planned activities 2010:<br />
Finish the Xap genome and the Xaj genome. Exploit this data for applied genomics (e.g., pathogen<br />
diagnostics, virulence analysis, inoculum source tracking).<br />
Develop a COST<strong>873</strong> bacterial culture collection.<br />
Training courses for Pseudomonas and Xylella..<br />
II.A.c. Working Group 2: Epidemiology and Disease Forecasting<br />
This WG‟s main aims are to elucidate disease etiology, understand disease epidemiology, and apply<br />
this to development of usable disease forecasting systems. Several STFs were established to achieve<br />
these aims.<br />
One STF has linked the leading research groups in Europe (ES, IT) working on a new disease causing<br />
severe losses in walnut, brown apical necrosis (BAN). Heated controversy surrounds BAN with the<br />
etiology uncertain, but diversely attributed to bacterial, fungal or a complex of these. Firmly<br />
establishing the cause of BAN is critical to surveying all European walnut areas for this disease, for<br />
integrating BAN into the walnut blight disease forecasting model (see below) and for developing<br />
resistance/controls for the disease.<br />
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A BAN fact-sheet draft has been prepared and further research efforts are underway to obtain a<br />
disease description suitable for all differing parties. The results from this COST<strong>873</strong> STF are being<br />
prepared for a joint publication in 2010.<br />
The efforts on BAN and Walnut Blight forecasting have been successfully integrated with field trials<br />
having been conducted in France, Spain and Austria. Data was presented at the annual meeting and will<br />
continue to be coordinated in 2010.<br />
A second STF is working with the CoP to develop a walnut disease forecasting model and<br />
integrating this into walnut production systems. The aim is to integrate control options into the model<br />
as well, and SME industries (biocontrol/chemical, grower cooperatives) are included in this STF. Field<br />
research to collect essential epidemiological data has begun in FR and IT with input from CH and AT.<br />
A large French-Spanish project was funded in cooperation with industry in 2008 to work on a<br />
walnut blight forecasting model. In 2009, an important addition to our efforts was the recruitment of<br />
K. Evans from Australia, and the formal membership into COST<strong>873</strong>. She will join COST<strong>873</strong> field<br />
studies in Europe through an STSM in Summer 2010.<br />
A third STF has begun to work on developing a disease forecasting model for Xap on stone fruits,<br />
and multi-national surveys have begun to ascertain the distribution of this pathogen outside of ES and<br />
IT where it is currently thought to be limited. Strains collected are being genotyped to assist in<br />
determining spread.<br />
National surveys for the presence of regulated pathogens (e.g., A2 List Xanthomonas arboricola<br />
pv. pruni), prevalence and damage from other bacteria (e.g., Brennaria, Pseudomonas, Erwinia,<br />
Agrobacterium) and a survey to verify an isolated 1 st -in-Europe <strong>report</strong> from Kosovo of the A1 List<br />
Xylella fastidiosa were conducted in most countries of COST<strong>873</strong> by or in consultation with COST<strong>873</strong><br />
experts. Surveys in Serbia, have involved 2 programs 2008-2009 aimed to check quarantine status of<br />
X.a. pruni and P.s. persicae respectively financed by National Plant Protection Directorate. As a result<br />
these two pathogens will remain on national A1 list of quarantine pathogens in 2009. Most of these<br />
survey activities were the direct result of efforts from WG2, and would not necessarily have been<br />
conducted without COST<strong>873</strong> involvement. Surveys in Greece, surveys have resulted in the<br />
preparation of an overview of bacterial pathogens affecting stone fruits and nut crops and their<br />
geographical distribution (maps). These are being enriched based on diagnostic records from Benaki<br />
Phytopathological Institute. Stone fruits orchards and nurseries as well as walnut and hazelnut orchards<br />
were monitored.<br />
Extensive surveys in Poland in 2008-2009 were conducted for bacterial canker of stone fruit trees.<br />
Isolates of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and pv. morsprunorum were characterized<br />
phenotypically (LOPAT and GATTa tests) and genetically (REP-PCRs, detection of genes coding for<br />
toxins) in COST<strong>873</strong> STSMs. Nurseries of stone fruit trees were checked for the presence of crown gall<br />
and hairy root. Over 200 Agrobacterium sp. isolates were characterized phenotypically (biochemical<br />
features and pathogenicity) and genetically (RAPD, pTi possessing) in COST<strong>873</strong> STSMs. Symptoms<br />
of bacterial blight on walnuts and hazelnuts were observed and the first <strong>report</strong>s of Xanthomonas<br />
arboricola pv. corylina on hazelnut and Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis on walnut in Poland<br />
were confirmed.<br />
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STFs were established that focus on key stone fruit diseases, specifically those caused by<br />
Pseudomonas, which has accomplished a major goal for COST<strong>873</strong>. This successfully integrates the<br />
two major areas of focus in COST<strong>873</strong> – nuts and stone fruits.<br />
Planned activities 2010:<br />
Publish a definitive description of BAN on walnut.<br />
Use the COST<strong>873</strong> fact-sheet catalogue in more coordinated multinational pathogen/disease surveys.<br />
Develop forecasting models based on field data for walnut blight and bacterial spot of stone fruit.<br />
II.A.d. Working Group 3: Host Resistance and Breeding<br />
This WG‟s aims are to develop markers that can be applied for Smart-Breeding, screen current<br />
germplasm resources for disease resistance, and breed commercially-acceptable disease resistant<br />
varieties of stone fruits and nuts. Currently, the main focus based on participant initiatives is walnut.<br />
Successful efforts were made in 2007-2009 to stimulate similar initiatives with stone fruits, such as<br />
apricot/plum and to work on stone fruit pathogens, particularly Pseudomonas.<br />
One STF was established to identify and validate biochemical markers for resistance, particularly<br />
in walnut. This STF was focused just on polyphenol variations among varieties, and with new<br />
biochemistry-specialist members from Germany and Austria, the scope of this activity will be greatly<br />
expanded. This represents a major link between COST<strong>873</strong> and expertise from COST864.<br />
A second STF was established to focus on heritage variety resistance to walnut blight and conduct<br />
large surveys. Such national surveys have been conducted in 2007-2009 (e.g., walnut resources and<br />
resistance across Spain). Methods to propagate plant material and efficiently screen for disease<br />
resistance have been developed by the Spanish participants and this technology is being transferred to<br />
other STF participating countries. A Training Course was held in 2009. A 2010 goal of this STF is to<br />
catalogue European varieties as a long-term resource for breeding and growers. A meeting with<br />
FAO/IPGIR and another devoted to developing a germplasm database of stone fruit-nut trees are<br />
planned for Romania in 2010.<br />
Harmonized protocols were published on www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch for screening walnut germplasm varieties<br />
for walnut blight resistance across the COST<strong>873</strong> countries.<br />
An STF was established to produce host genetic maps for COST<strong>873</strong> key crops (walnut, apricot,<br />
almond) that can be applied for development of Smart-breeding tools (= Marker Assisted Selection,<br />
QTLs). Leading molecular breeding laboratories in France, Greece, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and<br />
Italy have begun collaboration on these efforts, and a meeting will be held in February 2010. This<br />
meeting will recruit international genome experts for COST<strong>873</strong> research cooperation. This is aimed<br />
at enhancing COST<strong>873</strong> resistance breeding efforts and linking pathogen-plant genomics. A Swiss<br />
research grant was funded with partners in other COST<strong>873</strong> countries to develop disease resistance QTL<br />
markers in apricot.<br />
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Planned activities 2010:<br />
Screen apricot varieties for Xap resistance in different countries, and develop Smart-breeding tools for<br />
such resistance (e.g., QTLs)<br />
Protocols for analysis of biochemical characteristics of walnut genotypes to be for developing simple<br />
resistance markers will be prepared.<br />
STF meeting on host resistance and molecular breeding is planned for February.<br />
STF meeting on biochemical markers is planned for Spring. This may involve a Training School<br />
aspect.<br />
A joint meeting with FAO/IPGIR is planned.<br />
Development of a germplasm database for COST<strong>873</strong> stone fruit-nut host plants.<br />
II.A.e. Working Group 4: Control Strategies<br />
This WG‟s aims are to develop, evaluate and implement control strategies linking the deliverables of<br />
all WGs for an integrated disease management strategy for COST<strong>873</strong> diseases. The main control<br />
compounds that are being focused on are biological agents and chemicals (primarily innovative copper<br />
compounds). Durability of these compounds is being evaluated in a just established STF to survey for<br />
copper resistance in Xap and the walnut blight pathogen. A variety of newly isolated and commercial<br />
biocontrol agents are being screened and field tested in PL, CH, ES, IT and TR.<br />
Harmonized protocols were published on www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch for screening biocontrol agents for<br />
efficacy against walnut blight across the COST<strong>873</strong> countries was prepared by Spanish partners. A<br />
standardized protocol for bactericide evaluation prepared by French partners was published by AFPP<br />
(http://www.afpp.net) of the national method CEB (Commission des Essais Biologiques) for pesticide<br />
evaluation (for trials conducted for registration of chemicals) against walnut blight. This method was<br />
mainly requested to supply the copper products re-evaluation under EC 91/414.<br />
The potential of natural plant essential oils for bactericidal activity has been spear-headed by<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> CZ partners at the Crop Research Institute Prague. Efforts will be made to integrate this line<br />
of research with other COST<strong>873</strong> countries, providing independent evaluation of these compounds,<br />
transfer of this novel technology from CZ, and a training opportunity for CZ ESRs via developing this<br />
work with cutting-edge technology in other COST<strong>873</strong> labs.<br />
Major advances have been made for high-throughput synthesis of novel antibacterial peptides, and<br />
screening for antibacterial activity in vitro and in planta. The limited spectrum of activity and limited<br />
persistence in the environment make these peptides an extremely exciting development in plant<br />
protection chemistry. Two patents have been issued for this work in Spain.<br />
Another major highlight of this WG was the complete genome sequencing of two species of highly<br />
effective biocontrol agents, Pantoea agglomerans and P. vagans C9-1. This work has involved<br />
international industry funding to COST<strong>873</strong> partners. Publication and public access is expected in early<br />
2010. Plans are being finalized to sequence a further commercial strain.<br />
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An important component of this project within COST<strong>873</strong> is to determine the biosafety of this agent.<br />
Currently, it is listed as a class 2 bacterium due to clinical <strong>report</strong>s of human pathogenicity of some<br />
strains. A comprehensive MLST, AFLP and comparative genomics was completed for comparison of<br />
clinical and biocontrol strains. Phenotypic comparisons, including a range of pathogenicity tests, have<br />
been completed 2008-2009 in a Swiss-Spanish COST<strong>873</strong> cooperation. Field trials have been<br />
conducted in 2008-2009 in Switzerland, Italy and France to evaluate efficacy and risk assessment, and<br />
will continue in 2010. This should significantly influence policy decisions in Europe on commercial<br />
registration.<br />
Planned activities 2010:<br />
Continue work on coordinated copper studies across the COST<strong>873</strong> countries.<br />
Continue cooperative biocontrol strain field trials in France, Italy, Switzerland and include Turkey.<br />
Annotate the complete genome sequence of a clinical P. agglomerans strain and complete a sequence<br />
for a second biocontrol strain for comparative genomics.<br />
Joint meeting with OECD regarding regulatory issues for biopesticides.<br />
Screen novel, patented peptides and other novel antibacterial compounds for efficacy against a wider<br />
range of COST<strong>873</strong> target pathogens.<br />
II.B. Dissemination of results<br />
II.B.a. Press releases and promotion publications<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> has an online downloadable Poster which has routinely been used by participants to<br />
disseminate not only COST<strong>873</strong> results but also promote the COST program in general. This has been<br />
presented at a wide-range of National and International venues including Intl Congresses of Plant<br />
Pathogenic Bacteria, and ISHS and IOBC Intl Workshops.<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> research accomplishments, Training Schools, and meetings have received local press<br />
coverage with newspaper, magazine and television spots. Several examples are available at<br />
www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch.<br />
II.B.b. Scientific publications 2006-09 (partial list not including over 40 talk/poster<br />
presentations of participants at national and international meetings related to COST<strong>873</strong><br />
activities)<br />
1. Natalini, E., Scortichini, M. 2007. Variability of the 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer in<br />
Pseudomonas avellanae strains. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 271:274-280.<br />
2. Wang, P.W., Morgan, R.L., Scortichini, M., Guttman, D.S. 2007. Convergent evolution of phytopathogenic<br />
pseudomonads onto hazelnut. Microbiology 153:2067-2073.<br />
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3. Cirvilleri, G., Scuderi, G., Bonaccorsi, A., Scortichini, M. 2007. Occurrence of Pseudomonas syringae pv.<br />
coryli on hazelnut orchards in Sicily, Italy and characterization by fluorescent amplified fragment lLength<br />
polymorphism. J. Phytopathol. 155:397–402.<br />
4. Scortichini, M., Natalini, E., Marchesi, U. 2006. Evidence for separate origins of the two Pseudomonas<br />
avellanae lineages. Plant Pathol. 55:451–457.<br />
5. Weller, S.A., Beresford-Jones, N.J., Hall, J., Thwaites, R., Parkinson, N., Elphinstone, J.G. 2007. Detection<br />
of Xanthomonas fragariae and presumptive detection of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae, from<br />
strawberry leaves, by real-time PCR. J. Microbiol Meth. 70:379-383.<br />
6. Barash, I., Manulis-Sasson, S. 2007. Virulence mechanisms and host specificity of gall-forming Pantoea<br />
agglomerans. Trends Microbiol. 15:538-545.<br />
7. Weinthal, D.M., Barash, I., Panijel, M., Valinsky, L., Gaba, V., Manulis-Sasson, S. 2007. Distribution and<br />
replication of the pathogenicity plasmid pPATH in diverse populations of the gall-forming bacterium<br />
Pantoea agglomerans. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73:7552-7561.<br />
8. Badosa, E., Ferre, R., Planas, M., Feliu, L., Besalu, E., Cabrefiga, J., Bardaji, E., Montesinos, E. 2007. A<br />
library of linear undecapeptides with bactericidal activity against phytopathogenic bacteria. Peptides<br />
28:2276-2285.<br />
9. Montesinos, E. 2007. Antimicrobial peptides and plant disease control. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 270:1-11.<br />
10. Poza-Carrión, C. Aguilar, I., Gallego, F. J., Nuñez-Moreno, Y., Biosca, E. G., González, R., López, M. M.,<br />
Rodríguez-Palenzuela, P. 2008. Brenneria quercina and Serratia spp. isolated from Spanish oak trees:<br />
molecular characterization and development of PCR primers. Plant Pathol. 57:308–319.<br />
11. Bultreys, A., Gheysen, I., de Hoffmann, E. 2006. Yersiniabactin production by Pseudomonas syringae and<br />
Escherichia coli, and description of a second yersiniabactin locus evolutionary group. Appl. Environ.<br />
Microbiol. 72:3814-3825.<br />
12. Bultreys, A. 2007. Siderotyping, a tool to characterize, classify and identify fluorescent Pseudomonads. Soil<br />
Biology 12:67-89.<br />
13. Fargier, E., Manceau, C. 2007. Pathogenicity assays restrict the species Xanthomonas campestris into three<br />
pathovars and reveal nine races within X. campestris pv. campestris. Plant Pathol. 56:805–818.<br />
14. Parkinson, N., Aritua, V., Heeney, J., Cowie, C., Bew, J., Stead, D. 2007. Phylogenetic analysis of<br />
Xanthomonas species by comparison of partial gyrase B gene sequences. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol.<br />
57:2881-2887.<br />
15. Aarrouf, J., Garcin, A., Lizzi, Y., El Maâtaoui, M. 2008. Immunolocalization and histocytopathological<br />
effects of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on naturally infected leaf and fruit tissues of peach Prunus<br />
persica L. Batsch). doi:10.1111/j.1439-0434.2007.01364.<br />
16. Portier, P., Fischer-Le Saux, M., Mougel, C., Lerondelle, C., Chapulliot, D., Thioulouse, J., Nesme, X.<br />
2006. Identification of genomic species in Agrobacterium biovar 1 by AFLP genomic markers. Appl.<br />
Environ. Microbiol. 72:7123-7131.<br />
17. Anonymous. 2006. Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. EPPO Bulletin 36:129–133.<br />
18. Solar, A., Colaric, M., Usenik, V., Stampar, F. 2006. Seasonal variations of selected flavonoids, phenolic<br />
acids and quinones in annual shoots of common walnut (Juglans regia L.). Plant Sci. 170:453-461.<br />
19. Jones, J.B., Jackson, L.E., Balogh, B., Obradovic, A., Iriarte, F.B., Momol, M.T. 2007. Bacteriophages for<br />
plant disease control. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 45:245-262.<br />
20. Kennelly, M.M., Cazorla, F.M., de Vicente, A., Ramos, C., Sundin, G.W. 2007. Pseudomonas syringae<br />
diseases of fruit trees: Progress toward understanding and control. Plant Dis. 91:4-17.<br />
21. Vicente, J.G., Roberts, S.J. 2007. Discrimination of Pseudomonas syringae isolates from sweet and wild<br />
cherry using rep-PCR. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 117:383-392.<br />
22. Scortichini, M. 2007. Le malattie batteriche delle Drupacee. Inform. Fitopat. 5 :10-14.<br />
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23. Scortichini, M. 2006. Severe outbreaks of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae on new apricot cultivars in<br />
central Italy. J. Plant Pathol. 88:S68.<br />
24. Liguori, R., Calvi, P., Bassi, R., Pelliconi, F., Fagioli, L., Finotti, A., Scortichini, M. 2006. Efficacia di<br />
campo di acibenzolar-S-methyl (Bion) nei confronti della maculatura batterica del pesco, causata da<br />
Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. Atti Giornate Fitopatol. 2:131-134.<br />
25. Kadlicskó S., Pintér Cs., Fischl G., Simon F., Süle S., Dankó J., Jakab A., Makó Sz. 2007. A dió<br />
károsítóiról: vizsgálatok és eredmények. Agrofórum Extra, 19. 54-60. (Investigations and results on walnut<br />
diseases).<br />
26. Simon F., Fischl G., Kadlicskó S., Pintér Cs., Dankó J., and SSüle S. 2007. Phytopathological problems<br />
and solutions in walnut orchards along Lake Balaton. Ghent. (in press).<br />
27. Pintér Cs., Süle S., és Dankó J. 2006. A dió bakteriózis elleni védekezés optimális idejének megállapítása.<br />
XVI. Keszthelyi Növényvédelmi Fórum, Összefoglaló, 77.p. (Optimal times for protection agains bacterial<br />
diseases of walnut).<br />
28. Dankó J., Fischl G., Jakab A., Kadlicskó S., Makó Sz., Pintér Cs. és Süle S. (2007): Növénykórtani gondok<br />
és megoldások a dióültetvényekben. XVII. Keszthelyi Növényvédelmi Fórum, 2007. kiadványa, 129-131.p.<br />
(Phytopathological problems and solutions in walnut orchards).<br />
29. Dallai D. and E. Stefani, 2007. Genetic variations among Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni populations<br />
from peach orchards in Romagna. In: Proceedings of SIPAV Conference, Perugia, Italy, September 18-21.<br />
30. Biondi E., F. Bini, P. Lancioni, F. Anaclerio, A. Brunelli and C. Bazzi, 2006. Biological control agents as<br />
tools against some emergent bacterial plant diseases in Italy: A concrete perspective. Mitt. Biol.<br />
Bundesanst. Land. Forstwirtsch. 408. 170-176. (PDF not available)<br />
31. M. Vasinauskienė, D. Burokienė, V. Snieškienė, 2007: Lietuvoje augančių riešutmedţių (Junglands spp.)<br />
bakterinės ligos. – Ţvilgsnis į mikroorganizmų pasaulį. Gamtamokslinio ugdymo priemonė: 133-136.<br />
32. Giraud M., Prunet J.P., Chevallier A. et Ramain S., 2007. La bactériose du noyer: évolution des populations<br />
de Xanthomonas en verger. Infos-Ctifl n°230, avril 2007 pp.38-42.<br />
33. Dallai D, Stefani, E. 2007. Genetic variations among Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni populations from<br />
peach orchards in Romagna. J Plant Pathol 89:S15.<br />
34. Natalini E, M Scortichini. 2007. Variability of the 16S–23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer in<br />
Pseudomonas avellanae strains. FEMS Microbiol Lett 271:274 – 280.<br />
35. Bultreys, A. 2007. Siderotyping, a tool to characterize, classify and identify fluorescent<br />
pseudomonads, p 67-90. In A. Varma and S.B. Chincholkar (Eds.), Microbial Siderophores, Soil<br />
Biology, Volume 12, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.<br />
36. Garcin A, Prunet J.P., 2008, Réunion du Comité de Coopération Scientifique et Technique (<strong>Cost</strong>) <strong>873</strong><br />
(Murcia, 23-25 octobre 2007): Maladies bactériennes des Fruits à noyaux et à coques. Infos-Ctifl n°240,<br />
avril 2008 pp. 6-7.<br />
37. Vasinauskiene M., Baranauskaite L., Burokiene D., 2008: Bakteriniu kaulavaisiu ligu<br />
pasireiskimas Lietuvoje. - Vytauto Didziojo Universiteto Botanikos sodo rastai, 12 (spaudoje)<br />
(Vasinauskiene M., Baranauskaite L., Burokiene D., 2008: Occurrence of stone fruit bacterial<br />
diseases in Lithuania. - Scripta Horti Botanici Universitetis Vytauti Magni, 12 (in press))<br />
38. Bultreys, A. and I. Gheysen. 2008. Siderophore uses in Pseudomonas syringae identification, p 21-<br />
35. In M. Fatmi et al. (eds), Pseudomonas syringae Pathovars and Related Pathogens-<br />
Identification, Epidemiology and Genomics, Springer.<br />
39. Bultreys, A. 2007. Siderotyping, a tool to characterize, classify and identify fluorescent<br />
pseudomonads, p 67-90. In A. Varma and S.B. Chincholkar (Eds.), Microbial Siderophores, Soil<br />
Biology, Volume 12, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.<br />
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40. Bultreys, A., V. Gilbert, and F. Legros. 2008. Les maladies causées par Pseudomonas syringae en<br />
vergers fruitiers. Les Nouvelles de l‟Agriculture 46:34-35.<br />
41. Balkhoven, J., 2007. Gisela 5 blijft vooralsnog goede keuze. Fruitteelt 96 (28 ): 12 – 13. (on choice<br />
of variety Gisela)<br />
42. Dodde, H., Poldervaart, G., 2007. Vroegere en grotere producties bij pruim binnen handbereik.<br />
Fruitteelt 97 (29/30): 12 – 13. (on disease and other problems in plum production in past and<br />
present)<br />
43. Bultreys, A., V. Gilbert, and F. Legros. 2008. Die in den Obstwiesen durch Pseudomonas syringae<br />
verursachten Krankheiten. Les Nouvelles de l‟Agriculture 46:34-35.<br />
44. Moretti C., Silvestri F.M., Rossini E., Natalini G., Buonaurio R., 2007. A protocol for rapid<br />
identification of Brenneria nigrifluens among bacteria isolated from bark cankers in Persian<br />
walnut plants. Journal of Plant Pathology, 89: 2, 211-218.<br />
45. Moretti C., Buonaurio R. 2007. Development of a PCR-based method for detection of Brenneria<br />
nigrifluens in Persian walnut plants. Journal of Plant Pathology, 89: 3, 49-50.<br />
46. Stefani E., 2008. Il cancro batterico delle Drupacee. Agronomica, 5: 20-25.<br />
47. Biondi E., Dallai D., Brunelli A., Bazzi C. and E. Stefani, 2008. Use of a bacterial antagonist for<br />
the biological control of bacterial leaf/fruit spot of stone fruits. In: Proceedings of the IOBC<br />
Conference, Interlaken, Switzerland, September 9-12.<br />
48. Monika SULIKOWSKA, Piotr SOBICZEWSKI. 2008. Pseudomonas spp. Isolated from stone<br />
fruit trees in Poland Zemdirbyste-Agriculture, vol. 95, No. 3, p. 166–170<br />
49. Artur Mikiciński, Piotr Sobiczewski, Stanisław Berczyński, Joanna Puławska. 2008. Efektywność<br />
wybranych izolatów bakterii, ekstraktów roślinnych i propolisu przeciwko guzowatości korzeni<br />
(Agrobacterium tumefaciens). Mat. Ogólnopolskiej Konf. Ochr. Roślin Sadowniczych,<br />
Skierniewice 12-13.03.2008, 112-113.<br />
50. Young JM, Allen C, Coutinho T, Denny T, Elphinstone J, Fegan M, Gillings M, Gottwald TR, Graham JH,<br />
Iacobellis NS, Janse JD, Jacques M-A, Lopez MM, Morris CE, Parkinson N, Prior P, Pruvost O, Rodrigues<br />
Neto J, Scortichini M, Takikawa Y, Upper CD. 2008. Plant-pathogenic bacteria as biological weapons –<br />
Real threats Phytopathology 98:1060-1065.<br />
51. CT Bull, SH De Boer, TP Denny, G Firrao, M Fischer-Le Saux, GS Saddler, M Scortichini, DE Stead, Y<br />
Takikawa. 2008. DEMYSTIFYING THE NOMENCLATURE OF BACTERIAL PLANT PATHOGENS. J<br />
Plant Pathol 90:403-417.<br />
52. Darsonval A, A Darrasse, D Meyer, M Demarty, K Durand, C Bureau, C Manceau, M-A Jacques. 2008.<br />
The type III secretion system of Xanthomonas fuscans subsp. fuscans is involved in the phyllosphere<br />
colonization process and in transmission to seeds of susceptible beans. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:2669-<br />
2678.<br />
53. Santos CL, J Vieira, F Tavares, DR Benson, LS Tisa, AM Berry, P Moradas-Ferreira, P Normand. 2008. On<br />
the nature of fur evolution: A phylogenetic approach in Actinobacteria. BMC Evol Biol 8:185.<br />
54. Lang MD, Evans KJ. 2008. Optimizing spray applications for managing walnut blight in Tasmania.<br />
Australian Nutgrower 21:34-38.<br />
55. Clark JR, GE Hemery, PS Savill. 2008. Early growth and form of common walnut (Juglans regia L.) in<br />
mixture with tree and shrub nurse species in southern England. Forestry. doi:10.1093/forestry/cpn036.<br />
56. Loreti S., D. De Simone, A. Gallelli. 2008. Detection and identification of Brenneria nigrifluens, the causal<br />
agent of the shallow bark canker of walnut by, PCR amplification. J Phytopathol 156:464 – 469.<br />
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57. Young JM, DC Park, HM Shearman, E ... 2008. A multilocus sequence analysis of the genus Xanthomonas.<br />
Sys Appl Microbiol<br />
58. Young JM. 2008. An overview of bacterial nomenclature with special reference to plant pathogens. Sys<br />
Appl Microbiol<br />
59. Aarrouf J, Garcin A, Lizzi Y, Maataoui ME. 2008. Immunolocalization and histocytopathological effects of<br />
Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on naturally infected leaf and fruit tissues of peach (Prunus persica L.<br />
Batsch). J. Phytopathol. 156:338-345.<br />
60. Barionovi D, Scortichini M. 2008. Integron variability in Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis and<br />
Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni strains. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 288:19-24.<br />
61. Koning, S., 2008. Jaarplan kennisconsulent 2009 (Year planning knowledge consultant 2009).<br />
Fruitteelt 49, 5th of December 2008, page 3.<br />
62. Oostveen, A., 2008. Zwakke onderstam geeft areaal steenfruit beperkte impuls. Groenten & Fruit<br />
1: 50.(On the use of weak rootstocks and its positive impact on stone fruit production in the<br />
Netherlands)<br />
63. Poldervaart, G., 2007. Pseudomonas syringae bij pruim niet te genezen, wel te voorkomen.<br />
Fruitteelt 96 (28): 18 – 19.(On disease caused by P. syringae in plum)<br />
64. Poldervaart, G., Teeffelen, van W., 2008. VVA-1 wint het van St. Julien A. Fruitteelt 98 (3): 10 -<br />
11. (On preference of VVA-1 to St.Julien A as rootstock in the Netherlands)<br />
65. Poldervaart, G., Teeffelen, van W., 2008. Investeren in overkappingen loont. Fruitteelt 98 (5): 10 –<br />
11 (On the protected cultivation of cherry in the Netherlands)<br />
66. Poldervaart, G., 2008. Only cultivation methods can prevent loss of plum trees‟ – Alleen<br />
teeltmaatregelen kunnen uitval pruimebomen voorkomen. Fruitteelt 38, 19-9-2008: 8-9)<br />
67. Poldervaart, G. 2008. Pseudomonas invades plum‟- Pseudomonas rukt op in pruim Groenten en<br />
Fruit 2008, week 48:68 Aarrouf J., Garcin A., Lizzi Y., El Maâtaoui M., 2008. Immunolocalization<br />
and Histocytopathological Effects of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on Naturally Infected<br />
Leaf and Fruit Tissues of Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch). Journal of Phytopathology, Feb 6,<br />
2008.<br />
69. Garcin A., Prunet J.P., 2008, Réunion du Comité de Coopération Scientifique et Technique (<strong>Cost</strong>)<br />
<strong>873</strong> (Murcia, 23-25 octobre 2007): Maladies bactériennes des Fruits à noyaux et à coques. Infos-<br />
Ctifl n°240, avril 2008 pp. 6-7.<br />
70. Parveaud C-E et Verhaeghe A., 2008. La Bactériose du Noyer : quels mécanismes, quelles<br />
solutions L’Arboriculture Fruitière n°625, pp. 31-35.<br />
71. Parveaud C-E et Verhaeghe A., 2008. Bactériose du Noyer : La comprendre et la limiter. Terre<br />
Dauphinoise n°2767, pp 9-10.<br />
72. Parveaud C-E., 2008. La SENuRA participe à un réseau européen d‟échanges scientifiques sur la<br />
bactériose (groupe COST). Info Noix n°32, p 2.<br />
73. J. Tsiantos, I.K. Vagelas, C. Rumbos, A. Chatzaki, Akrivos I. and F.T. Gravanis, 2008. Evaluation<br />
of resistance of cultivated walnut varieties and selections to Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis<br />
in Greece. Proceedings of 14 th Panhellenic Phytopathological Conference, 7-10 October 2008,<br />
Nauplio, Greece [In Greek]<br />
74. C. Moragrega, I. Llorente, E. Montesinos, M. Rovira, N. Aletà. 2008. Susceptibility of walnut<br />
cultivars and Spanish selections to bacterial blight (Xanthomonas arboricola p.v. juglandis).<br />
Journal of Plant Pathology 90: 362<br />
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75. Ferré, R.; Monroc, S.; Badosa, E.; Cabrefiga, J.; Besalú, E.; Feliu, L.; Montesinos, E.; Bardají, E.;<br />
Planas, M. 2008. Antimicrobial peptides tailored for plant protection. Journal of Peptide Science<br />
14:88-88.<br />
76. Montesinos, E.; Badosa, E.; Ferré, R.; Monroc, S.; Feliu, L.; Planas, M.; Cabrefiga, J.; Bardají, E.<br />
2008. Small synthetic antimicrobial peptides as new bactericides for the control of plant<br />
pathogenic bacteria. Journal of Plant Pathology 90: 271-272.<br />
77. Pelludat C, Duffy B, Frey JE. 2009. Design and development of a DNA microarray for rapid<br />
identification of multiple European quarantine phytopathogenic bacteria. Eur J Plant Pathol<br />
125:413-423.<br />
78. Gasic K, Obradovic A. 2009. Primena Rep-PCR i nekih klasičnih metoda u detekciji Xanthomonas<br />
arboricola pv. pruni. Zaštita bilja 60:19-36.<br />
79. Parkinson N., Cowie C., Heeney J., Stead D. 2009. Phylogenetic structure of Xanthomonas<br />
determined by comparison of gyrB sequences. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:264-274.<br />
80. Young JM. 2009. Legitimacy is an essential concept of the International Code of Nomenclature of<br />
Prokaryotes – a major revision of the Code is called for. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1252-1257.<br />
81. Young JM, JP Wilkie, DC Park, DRW Watson. 2009. New Zealand strains of plant pathogenic<br />
bacteria classified by multi-locus sequence analysis; proposal of Xanthomonas dyei sp. nov. Plant<br />
Pathol., in press.<br />
82. Gilbert V, Legros F, Maraite H, Bultreys A. 2009. Genetic analyses of Pseudomonas syringae<br />
isolates from Belgian fruit orchards reveal genetic variability and isolate-host relationships within<br />
the pathovar syringae, and help identify both races of the pathovar morsprunorum. Eur J Plant<br />
Pathol 124:199-218.<br />
83. Hajri A, C Brin, G Hunault, F Lardeux, C Lemaire, C Manceau, T Boureau, S Poussier. 2009. A<br />
«repertoire for repertoire» hypothesis: repertoires of type three effectors are candidate<br />
determinants of host specificity in Xanthomonas. PLoS One 4:8.<br />
84. Blom J, SP Albaum, D Doppmeier, A Pühler, F-J Vorhölter, M Zakrzewski, A Goesmann. 2009.<br />
EDGAR: A software framework for the comparative analysis of prokaryotic genomes. BMC<br />
Bioinformatics 10:154.<br />
85. Montesinos E, E Bardaji. 2009. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides as agricultural pesticides for<br />
plant-disease control. ChemInform 39.<br />
86. Manso T, C Nunes, S Raposo, ME Lima-<strong>Cost</strong>a. 2009. Production of the biocontrol agent Pantoea<br />
agglomerans PBC-1 in a stirred tank reactor by batch and fed-batch cultures. World J Microbiol<br />
Biotechnol. DOI 10.1007/s11274-009-0229-6.<br />
87. Bouvier F. et Ramain S., 2009. Bactériose et stress hydrique : suivi de l‟état hydrique des arbres<br />
avec Pepista®. Info Noix n°36, pp 3-6.<br />
88. Chevalier A., Prunet J.P., Peroys J.L., 2009. La bactériose du noyer: où en est-on L’Echo du<br />
Noyer n°3, p.5-7.<br />
89. Prunet J.P., 2009. Réunion du Comité de coordination scientifique et technique sur les bactérioses<br />
des fruits à coque et à noyau. L’Echo du Noyer n°2, p.8.<br />
90. Prunet J.P., Verhaeghe A., 2009. 6 ème Symposium International de la noix : Australie, premier pays<br />
organisateur du sud. Infos-Ctifl n°253, p.6-7.<br />
91. Ramain S. 2009. Le nitrate de calcium contre la bactériose-nécrose du noyer. Terre Dauphinoise<br />
n°2836, p 6.<br />
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92. Ramain S., 2009. COST <strong>873</strong> – Quoi de neuf dans la recherche nucicole européenne Info Noix<br />
n°36, p 16.<br />
93. Ramain S. et Canin A., 2009. Le nitrate de calcium : une solution contre la bactériose-nécrose du<br />
noyer. Info Noix n°36, pp 7-8.<br />
94. Sammer UF, B Völksch, U Möllmann, M Schmidtke, P Spiteller, M Spiteller, and D Spiteller.<br />
2009. 2-Amino-3-(oxirane-2,3-dicarboxamido)-propanoyl-valine an effective peptide antibiotic<br />
from the epiphyte Pantoea agglomerans 48b/90. Appl Environ Microbiol.<br />
doi:10.1128/AEM.01244-09.<br />
95. Santos CL, F Tavares, J Thioulouse, P Normand. 2009. A phylogenomic analysis of bacterial<br />
helix-turn-helix transcription factors. FEMS Microbiol Rev 33:411–429.<br />
96. Bacchetta, L., Avanzato, D., Botta, R., Boccacci, P., Drogoudi, P., Metzidakis, I., Rovira, M.,<br />
Silva, A.P., Solar, A., Spera, D., Aramini, M. and Di Giovanni, B. 2009. FIRST RESULTS OF<br />
"SAFENUT": A EUROPEAN PROJECT FOR THE PRESERVATION AND UTILIZATION OF<br />
HAZELNUT LOCAL GENETIC RESOURCES . Acta Hort. 845:55-60.<br />
97. Bassil, N.V., Postman, J., Hummer, K., Botu, M. and Sezer, A. 2009. SSR FINGERPRINTING<br />
PANEL VERIFIES IDENTITIES OF CLONES IN BACKUP HAZELNUT COLLECTION OF<br />
USDA GENEBANK. Acta Hort. 845:95-102.<br />
98. Boccacci, P., Torello Marinoni, D., Botta, R. and Rovira, M. 2009. GENETIC DIVERSITY AND<br />
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ITALIAN AND SPANISH HAZELNUT CULTIVARS . Acta Hort.<br />
(ISHS) 845:127-132.<br />
99. Botu, I., Turcu, E., Botu, M., Preda, S. and Vicol, A. 2009. RESEARCH ON THE GENETIC<br />
VARIABILITY OF CHARACTERISTICS IN HYBRID POPULATIONS OF HAZELNUT. Acta<br />
Hort. (ISHS) 845:151-158.<br />
100. Solar, A. and Štampar, F. 2009. INTER-YEAR VARIABILITY OF POMOLOGICAL TRAITS<br />
EVALUATED IN DIFFERENT HAZELNUT CULTIVARS IN SLOVENIA. Acta Hort. (ISHS)<br />
845:169-174.<br />
101. Petriccione, M., De Luca, A., Ciarmiello, L.F. and Piccirillo, P. 2009. CARPOLOGICAL AND<br />
MOLECULAR UNIFORMITY WITHIN THE 'TONDA DI GIFFONI' HAZELNUT. Acta Hort.<br />
(ISHS) 845:181-186.<br />
102. Botu, I., Turcu, E., Botu, M., Achim, G., Vicol, A. and Papachatzis, A. 2009. 'ARUTELA' - A<br />
NEW HAZELNUT CULTIVAR FOR THE INDUSTRY. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 845:187-190.<br />
103. Solar, A., Veberič, R., Bacchetta, L., Botta, R., Drogoudi, P., Metzidakis, I., Rovira, M.,<br />
Sarraquigne, J.P. and Silva, A.P. 2009. PHENOLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME<br />
HAZELNUT CULTIVARS FROM DIFFERENT EUROPEAN GERMPLASM COLLECTIONS<br />
. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 845:613-618.<br />
104. Grafe, C., Höfer, M. and Schuster, M. 2009. EVALUATION OF DRY MATTER IN SOUR<br />
CHERRY (PRUNUS CERASUS L.). Acta Hort. (ISHS) 839:281-286.<br />
105. Aletà N, A Vilanova, R Díaz, J Voltas. 2009. Genetic variation for carbon isotope composition in<br />
Juglans regia L.: relationships with growth, phenology and climate of origin. Ann. For. Sci. 66:<br />
DOI: 10.1051/forest/2009021.<br />
106. Thiesz R, A Bandi, M Tóth, A Balog. 2009. Evaluation of an isolated Persian walnut (Juglans<br />
regia L.) population from Eastern Transylvania, Romania. J Food Agric Environ 6:132-136.<br />
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107. M Ergun, M Sütyemez, N Ergun. 2009. Sensory and descriptor attributes of some walnut<br />
cultivars and types. J. BIOL. ENVIRON. SCI. 2:89-94.<br />
108. Pollegioni P, K Woeste, G Scarascia Mugnozza, ME Malvolti. 2009. Retrospective identification<br />
of hybridogenic walnut plants by SSR fingerprinting and parentage analysis. Mol Breeding 24:<br />
321-335.<br />
109. Howden AJM, CJ Harrison, GM Preston. 2009. A conserved mechanism for nitrile metabolism in<br />
bacteria and plants. Plant J 57:243-253.<br />
110. Silby MW, et al. 2009. Genomic and genetic analyses of diversity and plant interactions of<br />
Pseudomonas fluorescens. Genome Biol 10:R51.<br />
111. Mithani A, GM Preston, J Hein. 2009. A stochastic model for the evolution of metabolic<br />
networks with neighbor dependence. Bioinformatics 25:1528-1535.<br />
112. Rezzonico, F., Smits, T.H.M., Pelludat, C., Montesinos, E., Frey, J.E., Duffy, B. 2009. Genotypic<br />
comparison of Pantoea agglomerans biocontrol and clinical isolates to address taxonomic and<br />
bio-safety questions. IOBC Bull. 43:35-39.<br />
113. Smits THM, Rezzonico F, Pelludat C, Stockwell VO, Goesmann A, Frey JE, Duffy B. 2009.<br />
Complete genome sequencing of Pantoea agglomerans strain C9-1. IOBC Bull. 43:375-378.<br />
114. Elad, Y., Maurhofer, M., Keel, C., Gessler, C., Duffy, B. (Editors). 2009. Molecular Tools for<br />
Understanding and Improving Biocontrol. IOBC Bull. 43.<br />
115. Szalatnay, D., Eder-Bauermeister, R., Duffy, B., Kellerhals, M. 2009. Characterization of fruit<br />
genetic resources in Switzerland. Acta Hort. 814:143-148.<br />
116. Rezzonico F, Stockwell VO, Duffy B. 2009. Plant agricultural streptomycin formulations do not<br />
carry antibiotic resistance genes. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53:3173-3177.<br />
117. Rezzonico F, Smits THM, Montesinos E, Frey JE, Duffy B. 2009. Genotypic comparison of<br />
Pantoea agglomerans plant and clinical strains. BMC Microbiology 9:204.<br />
118. Pothier JF, C Pelludat, M Bünter, M Genini, J Vogelsanger, E Holliger, B Duffy. 2010. First<br />
<strong>report</strong> of the quarantine pathogen Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni on apricot and plum in<br />
Switzerland. Plant Pathol. New Dis. Rep., in press.<br />
119. Frey JE, Pasquer F, Pelludat C, Duffy B. 2010. A high-density random-oligonucleotide genome<br />
microarray for universal diagnostics. EPPO Bull., in press.<br />
120. Kałużna M, Puławska J, Sobiczewski P. 2010. The use of PCR melting profile for typing of<br />
Pseudomonas syringae isolates from stone fruit trees. Eur J Plant Pathol 125:1-7.<br />
Patents<br />
Bardají, E.; Montesinos, E.; Badosa, E.; Feliu, L.; Planas, M.; Ferre, R. Lineal antimicrobial peptides.<br />
Code: P200601098. Spain.<br />
Bardají, E.; Montesinos, E.; Planas, M.; Badosa, E.; Feliu, L.; Monroc, S. Antimicrobial cyclic<br />
peptides. Code: P200503137. Spain<br />
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II.B.c. Meetings<br />
Two MC meetings were held, the kick-off in Brussels-2006 and at a large WG meeting in 2007. Two<br />
joint WG meetings were held for WG1/2 in France at INRA-Angers and for WG3/4 in Murcia, Spain.<br />
These were hosted by two of the central research facilities within COST<strong>873</strong> and opportunity was<br />
provided for facility tours to facilitate future collaborative efforts. A small STF meeting was held in<br />
Basel, CH, the success of which will serve as a template for further small meetings linked to STFs<br />
throughout the duration of COST<strong>873</strong>. Other COST Actions (e.g. COST864 have examined this<br />
approach and expressed interest in replicating it to more efficiently achieve their research goals.<br />
A second all-WG meeting was held in 2008 in Athens. Significant <strong>progress</strong> on establishing research<br />
collaborations and STFs to address all of the COST<strong>873</strong> objectives outlined in the MoU was<br />
accomplished. Several STF small-expert meetings were held including on Pseudomonas (PL), CoP<br />
(FR), biocontrol (CH), and BAN (TK). An International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Fruit<br />
Growing: from Plant to Product” was organized by Latvia State Institute of Fruit –Growing in May 28-<br />
31, 2008.<br />
2009 Meetings<br />
The third all-WG meeting was extremely successful (October 2009, <strong>Cost</strong>iera, Italy). One aim of this<br />
meeting provided a positive platform for ESRs to present their research in a public forum. This was so<br />
positively received that it will be a major focus of all future meetings. A second aim of this meeting<br />
was also extremely successful, to stimulate active research cooperation in all areas of COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
Significant time was devoted to vibrant break-out discussion sessions for each WG. Despite the<br />
tempting sunshine and view of the Amalfi coast, it turned out to be extremely difficult to end the halfday<br />
discussion session and bring participants back in to present summaries of their 2010 plans! Every<br />
WG returned with numerous plans for STSMs, meetings, multi-national research partnerships that<br />
address every MoU Task of COST<strong>873</strong> and also extend our original objectives. There has already been<br />
follow-through effort on these plans in 2010 with 4 STSMs approved in January, 2 meetings organised<br />
for February, and plans for 2 training courses underway. In addition, a series of mini-reviews based on<br />
this meeting are being prepared for publication in the Journal of Plant Pathology in 2010.<br />
Three Training Courses were held in 2009. A training course on Xanthomonas diagnostics,<br />
identification and genetics/genomics was held in Angers FR (September 2009). A trans-COST training<br />
course on Functional Genomics including training in sequencing, proteomics, transcriptomics and<br />
bioinformatics was held in Zürich (April 2009). A training course on walnut propagation was held in<br />
Murcia ES (March 2009).<br />
Two CoP meetings were held with stakeholders in Floirac FR and Brussels.<br />
A joint meeting with EPPO was held on diagnostics in May (York UK).<br />
Open-source publication of COST<strong>873</strong> presentations<br />
The minutes of all meetings, as well as presentations from COST<strong>873</strong> meetings are published online<br />
at www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch to achieve maximum-impact and wide-dissemination of COST<strong>873</strong> activities and<br />
accomplishments. There are over 160 presentations publically available at www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch.<br />
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Planned meetings for 2010<br />
Two Training Courses to provide training in classical and molecular phytobacteriology – Xylella<br />
fastidiosa (Bari IT, October); Pseudomonas (Belgrade RS, April) are scheduled.<br />
Joint meeting with COST<strong>873</strong> and FAO/IPGRI (International Plant Genetics Resources Institute) on<br />
Prunus is scheduled for the summer 2010 in Romania.<br />
Joint international conference with COST<strong>873</strong> and the OECD Biopesticides Steering Group is<br />
scheduled for Spring in Paris. This effort was initiated by the COST<strong>873</strong> CoP.<br />
Joint international congress on Pseudomonas syringae scheduled for September in Oxford UK.<br />
A CoP meeting is planned to transfer COST<strong>873</strong> research accomplishments to stakeholders, and to<br />
elicit stakeholder needs for directing research initiatives of COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
Several Specific Task Force small meetings are planned for various MoU tasks of COST<strong>873</strong>. STF<br />
meetings on Applied Genomics of Xanthomonas (Zürich) and Host Genomics/Genetics (Barcelona)<br />
are already arranged for February 2010.<br />
The fourth All-WG meeting and MCM is scheduled for October in Latvia. This will again focus on<br />
ESR presentations, break-out discussions to organize cooperative research, and recruitment of<br />
international know-how.<br />
II.B.d. Website<br />
The homepage www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch was launched in February 2007 and is freely accessible and open to<br />
all interested parties. It provides information about the Action and its corresponding topics for<br />
interested researchers, technical staff and the public, and additionally serves as an international<br />
promotion outreach aspect for European-sphere research in this area. A CMS tool enable economical<br />
and timely updating of the website by the COST<strong>873</strong> Chair. A password-protected tool facilitates<br />
exchange among COST<strong>873</strong> registered participants for: 1) uploading project, publication and other<br />
information for secure access among COST<strong>873</strong> partners and the Chair, 2) targeted searching of the<br />
participant database that facilitates <strong>report</strong>ing, WG management, and search for research collaboration<br />
partners.<br />
The Home Page provides Press Releases from COST<strong>873</strong>, online registration tool and login for<br />
participants to secure areas, summary of important content such as upcoming meetings and<br />
participant profiles, NEWS releases, and provides navigation to sub-pages:<br />
„About COST<strong>873</strong>‟ summarises our mission/structure, country participation/national contacts,<br />
general opportunities available to individual participants, national <strong>report</strong>s as provided by MC<br />
members, introduction to COST in general, and information on the crops covered in COST<strong>873</strong>,<br />
with links to other pages.<br />
„Bacterial diseases‟ provides information on the pathogens covered in COST<strong>873</strong> and posts<br />
disease fact sheets in various COST<strong>873</strong> languages.<br />
„People‟ provides a portal to secure areas where detailed participant profiles can be accessed<br />
and searched to facilitate partnering in research and other activities. Contact information for MC<br />
and lead participants is provided. Job announcements related to COST<strong>873</strong> are posted here.<br />
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„Industry & Government‟ provides information on the CoP and its stakeholder activities, and links<br />
to stakeholders.<br />
„Activities‟ includes up-to-date information on all upcoming meetings, documentation and all<br />
presentations for past meetings, easy to access information for STSMs and other exchange<br />
opportunities, and publication of training materials for phytobacteriology and protocols<br />
developed in COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
„Research‟ provides descriptions of STF activities, accomplishments and opportunities to either<br />
join a running STF or establish a new STF within COST<strong>873</strong>, COST<strong>873</strong> participant research<br />
projects and publications (searchable with login), and extensive information on how and where<br />
to obtain research funding for participants!<br />
„Gallery‟ is a depository for COST<strong>873</strong> photos related to crops, diseases, people and activities.<br />
„Related Links‟ provides a space for participants to link with their institutes, laboratories,<br />
companies, etc., and to provide information on non-COST<strong>873</strong> meetings of interest to our<br />
participants.<br />
The website has received very positive reviews from across COST<strong>873</strong> participants and has been used<br />
by other COST Action participants as a simple portal to COST documents and procedures (i.e., STSM<br />
application procedures). Content has increased at a dramatic rate with new posting of disease<br />
profiles/fact sheets/photos, personal profiles, job announcements etc. This site has become a major<br />
resource for phytobacteriology and will continue beyond the Action end as such. The usefulness of<br />
the website is evidenced also by the rapid response to the Job Announcements already posted and from<br />
applicants even outside COST<strong>873</strong> countries, and the wide response to meeting announcements soon<br />
after they go online. The website has been used as a resource for national phytosanitary authorities<br />
(e.g., the Dutch phytosanitary authority).<br />
Several institutes involved in COST<strong>873</strong> have established linked sites with www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch to<br />
disseminate information at the national level (e.g., Institute of Botany in Latvia:<br />
http://www.botanika.lt/COST_<strong>873</strong>/index.html).<br />
A new website has been opened to a new European Journal on Fruit growing (G. Poldervaart will be<br />
editor), which will also contain information of Pseudomonas in stone fruits :<br />
http://www.fruitmagazine.eu/leaflet-dutch.pdf.<br />
II.B.e. Scientific and technical cooperation<br />
A number of new collaborations have been established in the first 3 years of COST<strong>873</strong> on targeted<br />
and critical research areas related to the COST<strong>873</strong> mission, in all WGs. The primary instrument for<br />
research and collaborations within COST<strong>873</strong> is the STF. Specific cooperations are described above in<br />
the descriptions of each WG. The interest in the STF instrument increased tremendously in 2009.<br />
Cooperative research activity has really kicked-off in all working groups and almost all MoU Task<br />
areas of COST<strong>873</strong>. The only lagging areas have been host genetics/genomics and WG4 chemical<br />
control. Both of these areas have been targeted for 2010 to reach project goals, including specific<br />
STSMs and small meetings in 2010.<br />
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Two FP7 KBBE grants were funded with major COST<strong>873</strong> participant involment: KBBE – Q-BOL<br />
(DNA-Barcoding – NL coordinator, CH work-package leader) and Q-Detect (Phytosanitary monitoring<br />
methods – UK coordinator, CH work-package leader). One FP7 proposal was submitted but failed to<br />
receive funding: Infrastructures: Bacterial culture collections (submitted Feb 2008 – AT coordinator).<br />
The following national project proposals are a partial list of those that have resulted primarily from<br />
participation in COST <strong>873</strong>, and most which involve international cooperation with COST<strong>873</strong> partners:<br />
CZ- Kokoskova, B.: Effectivity of plant essential oils against Pseudomonas syringae and<br />
Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The work was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of CR,<br />
project No. 320/5305 and by the Ministry of Education of CR, project No. MSM6046070901.<br />
Research station of Crop Research Institute in Slany<br />
CZ-Korba, J. and Šillerová, J.: Evaluation of stone fruit rootstocks resistance to bacteria<br />
Pseudomonas sp. (COST supporting project)<br />
CZ-Kadlicskó S., Pintér Cs., Fischl G., Simon F., and Süle S. Control of bacterial and fungal<br />
diseases of walnut (2005-2007) Financed by Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary<br />
<br />
BE- “Walloon Agricultural Research Centre” research program, subsided by the Ministry of<br />
Agriculture of the Walloon Region (Alain Bultreys and Isabelle Gheysen)<br />
BE-Ministry of Agriculture of the Walloon Region, Grant RW-DGA D31-1124, from January<br />
2006 to January 2008 (Valérie Gilbert and Laora Sacré)<br />
CH-Swiss Federal Office for Education and Research, „Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni<br />
genetics and control‟ was funded for a 2 year post-doctoral scientist (B. Duffy, ACW,<br />
Switzerland). 110‟000 EURO.<br />
CH - Swiss Federal Office for Education and Research, 3 year PhD project on apricot resistance<br />
genetic mapping, QTL identification and development of Smart-breeding was funded (A. Patocchi,<br />
D. Christen, B. Duffy, ACW). 110‟000 EURO.<br />
CH- Swiss Federal Office for Education and Research, 3 year PhD submitted with Action<br />
endorsement on Pantoea biocontrol activity against apricot disease and genetics was not funded.<br />
CH- Swiss Federal Office for Education and Research, an industry project for walnut blight<br />
monitoring was submitted but not funded.<br />
CH-Swiss KTI, an industry project for developing rapid identification and phylogenetic analysis<br />
technology using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was submitted and is in review. (M. Tonolla,<br />
G. Vogel, B. Duffy, F. Rezzonico).<br />
CH-Swiss KTI, an industry project to evaluate novel chemicals for antibacterial activity was<br />
funded for 1 year. (R. Kuhn, B. Duffy). 90‟000 EURO.<br />
CH-Swiss Federal Biosafety Commission, Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture funded a 3 year<br />
project to study the effect of antibacterial antibiotics applied in orchards on antibiotic resistance in<br />
the environment. (B. Duffy). 200‟000 EURO.<br />
LV-Latvia – Specification of environment-friendly technologies in fruit and berry plantations in<br />
different soil and climatic conditions: Dr. agr. Māra Skrīvele et al., 2007 – 2011, Ministry of<br />
Agriculture National Research Project on Fruit Diseases.<br />
LV– Latvia - Breeding of varieties for integrated fruit production and their technological research,<br />
Dr. biol. Edīte Kaufmane et al., 2005-2008, Latvia Council of Science.<br />
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TK-Turkey – National Research Project on Xanthomonas diseases of stone fruits and walnut,<br />
specifically national surveys<br />
IT-Italy - Le batteriosi delle drupacee in area forlivese-cesenate. Funded by: APOFRUIT Italia and<br />
Consorzio Agrario di Forlì-Cesena e Rimini, 2007-2009, E. Stefani.<br />
IT-Italy - Valutazione dell‟efficacia dei glucoumati nel controllo delle batteriosi del pesco<br />
(Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni) e del noce (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis) e messa a<br />
punto di opportune strategie integrate di lotta. Funded by: FERTIREV (Medestea Internationale),<br />
Torino, 2007-2010, Emilio Stefani<br />
IT-Italy - Analisi su evoluzione patogenesi batteriosi del noce e messa a punto strategie di<br />
contenimento. Funded by: CRPV, Regione Emilia Romagna. 2007-2010, Emilio Stefani<br />
IT- Italy - A research agreement with SME SILVA GROUP, after the presentation of the EU-<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> Action, to further support research on possible, alternative biomolcules to control<br />
bacterial diseases of stone fruits and nuts. E. Stefani.<br />
ES- Spain - Selección y mejora de material vegetal y optimización de las técnicas de cultivo en las<br />
plantaciones frutales de nogal para incrementar su competitividad. Validación de un modelo de<br />
predicción de la infección de Xhantomonas arborícola pv. juglandis y control de la necrosis apical<br />
(Brown Apical Necrosis, BAN). Mercè Rovira (IRTA/INTEA), 110‟000 € 2006-2008.<br />
ES- In 2008 the IMIDA has received 3000 Euro from the COST Organization as a grant for the<br />
WG3-4 Meeting of Murcia. The IMIDA expend in this Meeting 9789,64 Euro.<br />
PL- Poland- Phenotypic and genetic characterization of bacterial pathogens of stone fruit trees,<br />
hazelnut and walnut in Poland, Joanna Puławska, Piotr Sobiczewski, Monika Sulikowska, Polish<br />
Nation Grant 118/N-COST/2008/0.<br />
FR-France – Chancre du Noyer, une maladie émergente Etiologie, caractérisation de la flore<br />
associée, dépistage et recherche de résistance, National program, supported by French Ministry of<br />
Agriculture (Contrat de Branche), 2006-2008 (216‟646 €), F. Laigret et al. (Ctifl, SeNuRA, INRA)<br />
FR-France – Certification du CRB-CFBP et génotypage de ses ressources, (2008) 43‟000 €, AIP-<br />
Bioressource, Le Saux Marion (INRA, France).<br />
Serbia - Adopting and validation of diagnostic procedures for Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae,<br />
2007/08, (National Plant Protection Directorate, 12,000 €)<br />
Serbia - Adopting and validation of diagnostic procedures for Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni,<br />
2007/08, (National Plant Protection Directorate, 24,000 €)<br />
Serbia - Adopting and validation of standard operating procedures for pome and stone fruit<br />
pathogens, 2007/08, (National Plant Protection Directorate, 50,000 €)<br />
NL- M. Wenneker – Project: Bacterial diseases in plum growing – national funding (Dutch<br />
Product Board for Horticulture) with k€6 funding.<br />
CZ-J. Novotny – Proposal: Epidemiology and diagnostics selected fungal pathogens of fruit trees<br />
and their control possibility – not funded by the CZ Ministry of Agriculture.<br />
FR-A French governmental grant was approved for sequencing the complete genome of<br />
Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis. (C. Manceau)<br />
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Cooperative research grants within EU FP7<br />
* ENDURE NoE has been expanded in 2009 to include a WG on biological control which is<br />
headed by COST<strong>873</strong> participant B. Blum, and which will include several COST<strong>873</strong> groups.<br />
* FP7 KBBE: Q-BOL project (NL coordinator) was funded and has started in 2009. This project<br />
includes several COST<strong>873</strong> bacteriology laboratories and the work will include most of the<br />
pathogens covered in COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
* FP7 KBBE: Q-Detect project (UK coordinator) was funded and will start in 2010. This project<br />
includes several COST<strong>873</strong> bacteriology laboratories, including WP Leader for Dissemination<br />
(B. Duffy). This project will develop phytosanitary monitoring technology for X. arboricola pv.<br />
pruni and joint activities are planned with COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
* An infrastructure grant was submitted but was unsuccessful.<br />
II.B.f. Transfer of results<br />
Transfer of results: „Technology Transfer and Implementation‟ has been conducted between the<br />
concluding COST 853 and into COST <strong>873</strong> to further the mission of our Action. Specifically, host plant<br />
genotyping microarray technology has been made available for cherry resistance screening and<br />
germplasm resource cataloguing in COST<strong>873</strong>. This effort was initiated at the Trans-COST workshop in<br />
Spain, 2007. COST 853 experts have been integrated into COST<strong>873</strong> resulting in significant advances<br />
in developing diagnostic microarrays (and 2 publications as of 2009).<br />
A special arm of COST<strong>873</strong> Committee of Practioners (CoP) has been established with a Head<br />
(Bernard Blum, Agrometrix AG, Basel, CH). B. Blum is also the Vice-President of the International<br />
Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (http://www.ibma.ch). This CoP is charged with arranging the<br />
smooth transfer of technology from Action scientists to stakeholders (industry, growers, plant<br />
protection officers, regulatory agencies) and the transfer of concerns/interests of stakeholders to Action<br />
scientists. The CoP has taken an active role in Technology Transfer, partly via stakeholder-researcher<br />
small events in 2008-2009. The CoP has taken the lead already in organizing an STF meeting with<br />
researchers and stakeholder grower groups and SMEs in order to develop a EUROAgri+ research<br />
(industry joint proposal related to walnut blight. The CoP has also coordinated industry research<br />
cooperation and funding on biological control – including Pantoea antagonist genome sequencing<br />
and field trials. The CoP promoted COST<strong>873</strong> to stakeholder participants of the IBMA annual meeting<br />
in Switzerland (2007, 2008, 2009).<br />
Local efforts have been made in several countries to publicize COST<strong>873</strong> and transfer our expertise<br />
through the local press and cooperation with regional governmental agencies. For example: The<br />
IMIDA has got as objective to transfer research results as soon as they are available to the Murcian´s<br />
growers through the mechanism of Technology Transference. In this way, all the local media<br />
connected to the Press Office of the Consejeria de Agricultura y Agua are available.<br />
Serbian disease surveys provide another example of policy impact of COST<strong>873</strong> at the regional and<br />
national level. COST<strong>873</strong> scientists coordinated two survey programs in 2008-2009 across Serbia,<br />
aimed to check quarantine status of X.a. pv. pruni and P.s. pv. persicae. The surveys were financed by<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
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Serbian National Plant Protection Directorate. As a result these two pathogens will remain on national<br />
A1 list of quarantine pathogens in 2009.<br />
Transfer of COST<strong>873</strong> results at the national level and at non-COST international meetings is a key aim<br />
of the Action dissemination. A small sample of such activities that have been communicated by MC<br />
members:<br />
1. November 2006: Epidemiology and control of bacterial diseases of Stone Fruits. Lessons<br />
organised for the Technical Extension Service and Inspectors of the Province of Ravenna.<br />
2. January 2007: Epidemiology and control of bacterial diseases of Stone Fruits. Lessons organised<br />
for the Technical Extension Service and Inspectors of the Province of Forlì-Cesena and<br />
Rimini.<br />
3. January 2007: The diagnosis and control of walnut blight and cherry canker. Instituto National de<br />
Investigationes Agropecuarias (INIA). Santiago de Chile, CHILE.<br />
4. April 2007: Presentation of the COST<strong>873</strong> action at the Regional Plant Protection Service,<br />
Bologna, Italy.<br />
5. June 2007: Bacterial canker/leaf spot of stone fruits (Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni) in Italy.<br />
Oral presentation at the National Biological Institute (NIB), Ljubljana, Slovenia<br />
6. M. Vasinauskienė, V. Snieškienė, D. Burokienė: “Evaluation of bacterial diseases on walnuts<br />
(Juglands spp.) grown in Lithuania”. - Conference of Lithuanian Microbiologists Society<br />
“Microorganisms in Human Environment and Control of their Activities”, 12, June, 2007, Vilnius<br />
7. Hungarian National Walnut Meeting and Exposition 21.09.2007.<br />
8. Presentation of COST Action <strong>873</strong> at the "Lithuanian Information Day of COST Activities"<br />
together with other Lithuanian COST participants (COST E55; COST 860; COST 725; COST<br />
FP0701) on 30th, October , 2008 at the Institute of Botany, Vilnius. Number of participants – 35.<br />
9. November 20 th , SILVA GROUP INTERNATIONAL, Mondovì, Cuneo, Italy. Presentation of the<br />
EU-COST<strong>873</strong> Action. Bilateral agreement to support research (2009-2011) on the use of<br />
biomolcules to control bacterial diseases of stone fruits and nuts.<br />
10. NPPO Phytosanitary links in cooperation with Central Laboratory of Main Inspectorate of Plant<br />
Health and Seed Inspection in Toruń, Poland.<br />
11. A grower awareness campaign (following the described outbreak) was started by Applied Plant<br />
Research, Research, Unit Fruit. Lectures (4x), including advice on control were provided for<br />
growers and articles published by G. Poldervaart. In lectures COST website was advertised to<br />
growers as an information source. According to feedback of growers the website was often<br />
consulted.<br />
In the year planning 2009 of the knowledge consultant of the Dutch National Fruitgrowers<br />
Organisation (NFO) Pseudomonas in stone fruit has been incorporated as an important issue<br />
(Published in Fruitteelt 49, 5th of December 2008, page 3).<br />
12. Working group for writing the national method CEB (Commission des Essais Biologiques) for<br />
pesticide evaluation (for trials conducted for registration of chemicals) against Walnut Blight:<br />
governemental institution, Ctifl, experimental farms, industry, and representatives of growers. This<br />
method was requested because the copper products re-evaluation (directive EC 91/414); it was<br />
submitted in plenary session of the CEB in 2008 and published in 2009.<br />
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Scientific Exchanges beyond those funded in the COST STSM program:<br />
1. October – November 2006: Visit of Miss Katarina Gasic‟ from the University of Belgrade. The<br />
diagnosis of bacterial diseases for the implementation of the certification schemes. In collaboration<br />
with the Regional Plant Protection Service, Bologna, Italy.<br />
2. June 2007: Joint field surveys in Slovenia for the monitoring of bacterial diseases of Apricot,<br />
Plum, Peach and Walnut, followed by common work in the lab for the isolation and identification<br />
of bacteria. Italian Participants: Emilio Stefani, Davide Dallai, Davide Giovanardi. Slovenian<br />
participants: Maja Ravnikar, Tanja Dreo, Slovenian field inspectors and students. (See photo<br />
attached).<br />
3. July 2007: Visit to plum orchards in Central Serbia. Participants: Emilio Stefani, Aleksa<br />
Obradović, Katarina Gasić, Milan Ivanović, other Serbian Technicians and Students.<br />
4. April 2008: C. Moretti from the Dept. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of<br />
Perugia was hosted for joint field inspections in walnut orchards of Romagna. Field surveys for<br />
the monitoring of the presence of Brenneria juglandis in walnut orchards. Hosting person: E.<br />
Stefani.<br />
5. May 2008: E. Stefani to a technical visit to the Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, Izmir,<br />
Turkey. Technical course given by the visiting COST<strong>873</strong> scientist at the Faculty on bacterial<br />
diseases of stone fruits. Joint field inspections in commercial peach orchards and nurseries in<br />
western Anatolia, to monitor the presence of bacterial diseases of stone fruits.<br />
6. June – July 2008: Joint orchards and nursery surveys in Serbia. Participants: Emilio Stefani,<br />
Davide Dallai, from Italy. Serbian participants: A. Obradovic‟, J. Balaz, K. Gasić, Serbian field<br />
inspectors, nurserymen and students. Bosnian participant: V. Trkulja, form the Agricultural<br />
Institute, Banja Luka.<br />
7. June – July 2008: Serbia. Training course given by E. Stefani. “Lab training for the detection,<br />
identification and characterisation of X. pruni in symptomatic plant material”. Location:<br />
University of Belgrade and University of Novi Sad. Hosting persons: A. Obradovic and J. Balaz.<br />
8. Student Sahika Butuner from Adnan Menderes University, Turkey was in-service training for 9<br />
weeks at unit of plant pathology of Latvian State Institute of Fruit-Growing.<br />
A new type of STSM designed to make the most of available COST<strong>873</strong> expertise was started in 2008<br />
and continued with great interest in 2009. The aim is to fund a small number of seasoned<br />
phytobacteriologists to travel for research exchanges but also to conduct field training schools. Field<br />
training schools enable local students and young scientists to access hands-on training for an expert in<br />
phytobacteriology, in surroundings they are comfortable with and with native-speakers available for<br />
translation. These schools also provide a unique opportunity for students to discuss the details of their<br />
projects and obtain feedback from an outside expert. Finally, these field schools enable students to<br />
conduct surveys and identify diseases in their own countries, thus developing the next generation of<br />
plant inspectors.<br />
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IIB-11: Contacts in ERA<br />
EU Commission and OECD<br />
Contacts with regulators: the registration of biological agents (MBCAs) considered as alternative to<br />
chemical fungicides requests registration at both the EU and the national levels. Several contacts<br />
have been made at the EU level in order to facilitate the EU registration of the antagonists which are<br />
considered in the frame of the project. Contact with DG SANCO (Wolfgang Reinert), DG<br />
Environment (Anne Cecile Cotillon) and MEPs (Ch. Klass, H. Breyer etc.).<br />
Protocols for bactericide evaluation were prepared at governmental request in France for regulatory reevaluation<br />
of copper products under EC 91/414.<br />
A proposal will be made in the frame of the EU Network of Excellence ENDURE for the<br />
adaptation of the Pesticides Regulation, presently under discussion (2 nd reading) in the EU<br />
Parliament. The same question is being evaluated in the frame of the OECD Biopesticides Steering<br />
Group (BPSG) which provides regulatory guidance to the OECD member states.<br />
In July 2009, B. Duffy (Chair) and B. Blum (CoP Lead) participated in the steering group meeting<br />
in Paris. COST<strong>873</strong> research advances regarding Pantoea biosafety were presented. OECD agreed to<br />
co-organise a joint international conference with COST<strong>873</strong> in 2010 (Paris). This is a major<br />
advancement of COST<strong>873</strong> initiative to pave the way for European regulatory acceptance of Pantoea<br />
biocontrol products.<br />
FP7 KBBE program<br />
Two KBBE research projects (Q-BOL & Q-Detect) were approved with COST<strong>873</strong> partners playing<br />
significant roles in research on bacterial barcoding and phytosanitary monitoring technology, and as<br />
Work Package leaders. Joint meetings between Q-Detect and COST<strong>873</strong> are planned for 2011, and if<br />
possible 2010.<br />
EUPHRESCO (www.euphresco.org)<br />
Phytosanitary ERA-NET was contacted and coordinated activities were conducted in 2008 and<br />
2009. In 03.2008, a Training Workshop for Students was held at CSL with participation of<br />
EUPHRESCO, and a pilot call for collaborative research projects funded through the ERA-Net was<br />
proposed for Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni. This proposal was not finally accepted by<br />
EUPHRESCO. In 2009, a pilot project was accepted for single-locus sequencing for rapid<br />
diagnostics and is lead by the COST<strong>873</strong> UK representative J. Elphinstone. Opportunities for joint<br />
meetings in 2009 and beyond have been vigorously explored but not yet taken up by the ERA-Net.<br />
EPPO Bacteriology Panel<br />
Official contact between EPPO and the COST<strong>873</strong> Chair and expression of interest in collaborating,<br />
particularly on harmonization of diagnostic/monitoring protocols and European meetings was made.<br />
In addition, COST<strong>873</strong> promotional material was presented at the Bacteriology Panel meeting in<br />
Tunis (Feb 2007), and will be presented at the joint EPPO/EAP meeting scheduled for 02.2009 in<br />
Izmir. A joint COST<strong>873</strong> - EPPO Diagnostic meeting was held in May 2009 (York, UK).<br />
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European Association of Phytobacteriologists<br />
This new society has been established to link the individual top phytobacteriologists of every<br />
European country (one per country), in an effort to network activities, exchange expertise and<br />
experience, and influence policy-makers. COST<strong>873</strong> participants figure among a majority of the<br />
members.<br />
COST 853 has delivered a cherry genotyping microarray that will be applied in COST<strong>873</strong> for<br />
rapidly determining the self-compatibility (reproductive) of varieties. This will enable us to more<br />
effectively select cherry cultivars for our screening of disease resistance (WG3) and for<br />
incorporating commercially suitable cultivar mixtures in orchards (WG4). A special-task force will<br />
be developed in 2009 to steer the screening of cherry cultivars using this chip. A German breeder<br />
has recently joined COST<strong>873</strong> to focus on this effort. Microarray expertise for diagnostics has been<br />
recruited into COST<strong>873</strong> and STSMs to explore these novel high-density arrays for multiplex<br />
diagnostics have started in 2009 (with a first publication already accepted). Further work is planned<br />
for early 2010 to explore applications for strain-fingerprinting of biocontrol agents.<br />
COST864 deals in part with a major bacterial disease of pome fruits, fire blight. Many of COST<strong>873</strong><br />
participants have links to COST864, and joint meetings/FP7 proposals are being explored for future<br />
links between our Actions. The Chair of COST864 and his laboratory have joined COST<strong>873</strong> in<br />
order to integrate expertise in plant biochemistry to work with COST<strong>873</strong> tree species. This link<br />
will also facilitate further cooperation in meeting planning to deliver added-value for related<br />
activities when appropriate.<br />
COST872/FA0604/ COST864 co-sponsored a Training Course Proposal for Functional<br />
Genomics held in Zürich, 04.2008 and organized by COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
COST734 deals with climate change issues that tangentially relate to emerging threats from<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> target pathogens/diseases. A Swiss project to evaluate disease forecasting data with links<br />
to COST<strong>873</strong>/864 was funded in 2009. There is a new effort in COST<strong>873</strong> to initiate climate change<br />
research and we are interested in organizing a Trans-COST meeting on this topic in 2010 or 2011.<br />
EUREKA-EUROAgri+<br />
A research proposal initiative between COST<strong>873</strong> involved researchers and industries is being<br />
spearheaded by the CoP involving CH, AT, IT, FR, ES. A EUROAgri+ spokesman was invited and<br />
presented an overview talk on potential links with COST<strong>873</strong> at one of the COST<strong>873</strong> meetings in<br />
2007 (Basel, CH).<br />
IOBC/wprs<br />
A joint meeting was held with the International Organisation for Biological Control in 09.2008<br />
(Interlaken, CH). A further cooperation is planned tentatively for 2010 (Graz, AT). A joint<br />
publication of proceeding papers was published with B. Duffy (Chair) as Editor.<br />
International Society for Horticultural Sciences (ISHS)<br />
A link was made with ISHS in 10.2008 for significant cooperative efforts. ISHS has agreed to<br />
sponsor a joint ISHS/COST<strong>873</strong> international meeting to be held in October 2011 in Switzerland.<br />
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This will result in publication of an Acta Horticulturae volume. This will be a vehicle for promoting<br />
the high quality of European research in this field, particularly as fostered by the COST<strong>873</strong> network.<br />
In addition, it is intended that this meeting will recruit international partners (e.g., USA, South<br />
America) for developing a comprehensive book on Stone Fruit and Nut Health Management. This<br />
will come after the end of COST<strong>873</strong> but represent a synthesis of our Action results.<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> participants promoted our research advances and the Action/COST concept at the ISHS<br />
Walnut meeting in Australia (Brisbane, 2009) and the ISHS Hazelnut meeting in Italy (Viterbo,<br />
2009). A board member of ISHS, D. Avazanto, has been recruited and become an active and<br />
entertaining member of COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
II.C. Self evaluation<br />
The Action is running smoothly and is well on target to achieve the goals listed in the MoU.<br />
Particularly successful towards this goal was the establishment of STFs (specific task forces)<br />
targeted to specific research and coordination goals of the Action. These ensure coverage of the fullbreadth<br />
of topics and national representation in COST<strong>873</strong>, as well as providing a defined procedure for<br />
establishing effective research collaborations among partners to accomplish goals in an orderly<br />
and timely fashion, despite funding limitations for research objectives.<br />
A major accomplishment of COST<strong>873</strong>, which could serve as a model for future COST Actions, is the<br />
successful establishment and implementation of a CoP (Committee of Practioners). This CoP has<br />
greatly facilitated information and technology transfer between the research arm of COST<strong>873</strong> in WGs<br />
and COST<strong>873</strong> stakeholders. Activities in 2007, 2008 and 2009 have increasingly resulted in productive<br />
cooperation between research and stakeholders (industry, policy-makers, growers, consumers, NGOs).<br />
Training aspects have been conducted in 2008 and 2009 that will significantly move towards one of our<br />
main goals of preparing a new generation of plant protection oriented specialists in phytobacteriology.<br />
The STSM component of this training effort has gotten off to a slow start, but interest has greatly<br />
increased in 2008 and 2009. Early interest in 2010, suggests that this training instrument will be more<br />
than adequately utilized in the remaining years of COST<strong>873</strong>. We have implemented a variation on<br />
the STSM for limited use to enable a cost-effective dissemination of expertise for training purposes in<br />
less-developed regions based on sending Senior Experts to conduct mini-training schools for local<br />
groups of COST<strong>873</strong> students. The first such Expert STSM was conducted in RS in 2008, and 2 were<br />
conducted in 2009. A continuing aggressive campaign is planned for 2010 to encourage STSM<br />
exchanges of students, particularly within the framework of STFs (to result in collaborative research<br />
and publications) and training of less-developed areas.<br />
Major advances have been made in the website tools available to the Chair and all presentations of<br />
meetings, training, and research activities are posted online for optimal dissemination within<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> and beyond starting in 2008. The website has received excellent feedback since its launch<br />
shortly after the Action start from many participants. In fact, participants of 2 other Actions have<br />
indicated to the Chair that they routinely use the www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch portal to obtain basic COST forms<br />
and information (e.g., STSM application information).<br />
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In addition a request was made in which all MC members provided a self-rating of the Action on a<br />
scale of 1=best, highly beneficial to 3=worst, highly un-useful. The response was high with over 50%<br />
of MC members responding in 2008 and 2009, giving a high rating of overall satisfaction with<br />
COST<strong>873</strong>. Highlights of COST<strong>873</strong> volunteered by respondent MC members in these surveys were:<br />
Website ease-of-navigation and content<br />
Communication<br />
Meetings, particularly the small STF meetings to generate research results<br />
Research collaborations initiation and support from COST<strong>873</strong><br />
II.C.a. Main Successes<br />
Technology and Know-How Transfer: Action <strong>873</strong> is ahead of schedule regarding the Tech Transfer<br />
workshops with the first held by the CoP in 2009. Smaller meetings with stakeholders were held in<br />
2008 and 2009. Highly-significant contacts with governmental stakeholders from the EU<br />
Commission, National Ministries and the OECD have been made regarding issues of central<br />
importance to not only COST<strong>873</strong> but European agriculture. A meeting with stakeholders was held in<br />
Brussels in 2009, and participation in the OECD biopesticides steering group was initiated in 2009.<br />
Plans are being made for an OECD-COST<strong>873</strong> joint international conference on biopesticide regulatory<br />
issues in 2010. A wide-range of industry contacts have been established from diagnostic companies,<br />
chemical/biocontrol manufacturers, precision agriculture to breeding/nursery groups.<br />
Action <strong>873</strong> is on-schedule with Disease Fact-Sheets with a task-force headed by J. Elphinstone, CSL,<br />
UK established to gather existing fact-sheets from all signatory countries for posting on an already<br />
reserved space on the Action website. A number of fact sheets in local languages have been prepared<br />
and posted online or are in final stages for publication online. COST<strong>873</strong> has already become an<br />
important resource for bacterial diseases with end-user plant inspectors, growers and scientists (e.g.,<br />
incorporated into extension training in the Netherlands).<br />
COST<strong>873</strong> has had an active and successful Training and Mobility Module. Regular training<br />
courses have received an extremely positive feedback from ESR participants as well as their<br />
mentors back home. Training materials from these courses have been published online for wider<br />
dissemination. Since the first course on classical-molecular phytobacteriology held in March 2008 at<br />
FERA, York UK, we have organized further courses in phytobacteriology (Angers FR, June 2009),<br />
walnut propagation (Murcia ES, March 2009), and pathogen genomics (Zürich CH, April 2009). These<br />
courses will remain a major focus of COST<strong>873</strong> based on participant response to those already held. We<br />
particularly are interested in arranging courses on plant resistance genetics, phytosanitary science,<br />
and science management (perhaps as a Trans-COST training course). Two courses are already<br />
planned courses for 2010: Pseudomonas classical-molecular phytobacteriology (Belgrade, April),<br />
and Xylella phytosanitary-phytobacteriology (Bari, October) training.<br />
Initial lag in COST<strong>873</strong> STSMs has been corrected, now with a high level of interest, and a high<br />
quality of training results – particularly due to the focus on linking STSMs with active COST<strong>873</strong> STF<br />
research activities. This has been due to the STF sub-group instrument, exposure via Training Courses,<br />
and extensive adverstisement (online, at meetings, and one-to-one encouragement). Many participants<br />
have volunteered that www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch has provided a simple procedure for STSM application. In fact,<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
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participants of other COST Actions have mentioned that they get application information via<br />
www.cost<strong>873</strong>.ch.<br />
An STSM instrument for senior scientist participants has broadened COST<strong>873</strong> outreach by<br />
sending experienced scientists to conduct local training to a larger number of ESRs. Two such training<br />
STSMs have already been conducted in Turkey and Serbia. Further encouragement will be given in<br />
2010 to deploy COST<strong>873</strong> senior scientists to conduct in-field training STSMs. Note that this is<br />
available primarily as a supplement to the ERASMUS program (e.g., when exchange does not involve<br />
two academic institutions and is not eligible for ERASMUS). The links and information about<br />
ERASMUS have been posted on the website. Such STSMs will also require a training component (i.e.,<br />
local class activity such as a training workshop in the lab and/or field) involving several local students,<br />
as well as the standard research component. This is anticipated to increase awareness of STSM<br />
availability and recruit promising students to take advantage of this opportunity.<br />
II.C.b. Drawbacks<br />
The Action is making excellent <strong>progress</strong> on all of its main aims: 1) coordinated research, 2) building<br />
links between research and stakeholder sectors, and 3) integration of young and developing scientists.<br />
No significant drawbacks were faced during the third year 2009. The COST<strong>873</strong> community has<br />
developed a level of comfort that fosters timely feedback from all participants. This has enabled us to<br />
rapidly respond to concerns and interests of participants regarding COST<strong>873</strong> activities.<br />
II.C.c. Key difficulties<br />
The Action did not face any significant difficulties during the third year 2009.<br />
Clarifying procedures to recruit new COST-countries and non-COST country institutes has been<br />
more time-consuming than expected, but in the end largely successful with applications accepted for 2<br />
institutes from New Zealand, Lebanon, South Africa and Australia. Discussions for Macedonia,<br />
Georgia and Armenia to join have been stalled due in part to difficulty contacting correct national<br />
authorities.<br />
Even though we are in the 4 th year, continued effort will be made to recruit members from the EU<br />
margins in 2010. COST<strong>873</strong> recognizes several benefits of this: 1) long-term value of establishing<br />
contacts to develop post-COST<strong>873</strong> cooperation and research projects, 2) critical role such regions hold<br />
for European phytosanitary security, particularly concerning regulated pathogens, 3) value of plant<br />
germplasm resources, particularly species that originated/diversified in these regions, and 4) the<br />
potential impact even 2 years of COST<strong>873</strong> training opportunities can have on less-experienced<br />
institutes/scientists in these regions.<br />
Minor organisational hurdles arose from confusion over mid-year start of the annual budget period, but<br />
this just required providing more direction in planning activities. As with probably all COST Actions,<br />
obtaining information from a majority of participants to prepare annual <strong>report</strong>s has been a perennial<br />
difficulty. Organisation by COST of a professional seminar on project management for new<br />
Action Chairs (e.g., at the APC when Chairs are excused from DC discussions) would be very<br />
useful, and this could be one topic to cover.<br />
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Monitoring Progress Report – 2009<br />
COST <strong>873</strong> – Bacterial Diseases of Stone Fruits and Nuts<br />
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Correcting Course to Keep Momentum on All Tasks and Incorporate Participant Interests<br />
2008: The only concern raised by MC members at the Kick-off meeting was regarding the relative<br />
representation of Nut vs. Stone Fruit issues. This was understandable given that a core group of Nut<br />
researchers have been working on the preparation of this Action for over 2 years, and Stone Fruit issues<br />
were just added to the Action shortly before proposal submission. Given this timing, it is encouraging<br />
that several new task-forces have been established that focus on Stone Fruit diseases.<br />
Specific effort was immediately made to enlist those raising this concern in developing research plans<br />
focused on stone fruit problems, but these participants declined to take the lead. The Chair has since<br />
contacted other participants to potentially head new task-forces and it is anticipated that after WG<br />
meeting discussions, several were established devoted to stone fruits in 2008. The problem with<br />
balance has been corrected after the structure of task-forces was outlined on the website, and several<br />
new STFs were established. In 2009, stone fruit research and cooperation activities held a prominent<br />
position in COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
2009: We identified lagging efforts in the area of host plant genomics/genetics in 2009 and have<br />
initiated plans to correct this in 2010. Specifically, a meeting is planned for Barcelona (February 2010)<br />
which will recruit partners involved in international genomic efforts (Rosaceae, peach, almond).<br />
The aim of this initiative is to link COST<strong>873</strong> breeding, germplasm and pathogen genomics advances<br />
with plant genomics resources, to establish active research cooperation and to lay the foundation for<br />
FP7 KBBE research projects with inclusion of COST<strong>873</strong> participants. Experts were also recruited<br />
for genome bioinformatics (CeBiTec, Germany; Oxford University, UK) and plant biochemistry<br />
(TUW, Vienna) were recruited to bolster COST<strong>873</strong> research activities. They have already been<br />
integrated and are participating in COST<strong>873</strong>.<br />
We also identified a role of COST<strong>873</strong> in the EU research gap regarding Xylella fastidiosa. A review<br />
was presented by J. Janse (NL) and plans made to hold a phytosanitary training course in Bari IT<br />
(October 2010). This will include technology transfer to Europe from US experts with this difficult<br />
pathogen.<br />
The only other area that has lagged behind the rest of COST<strong>873</strong> involves cooperative research for<br />
chemical control products and integrated disease management. Targeted STSMs have been planned and<br />
discussion with the WG leader indicates this will be corrected in 2010, including involvement of<br />
industry partners. The 2009 <strong>Annual</strong> Meeting invigorated COST<strong>873</strong> participants working in this area<br />
who have been reluctant until now to engage in COST<strong>873</strong> cooperative research. Special attention will<br />
be devoted by the Chair, CoP Lead and WG 4 Lead to move this work forward in 2010.<br />
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