TABLE CONTENTS

general standards have also been adopted. Approximately 20 protocols are currently in
preparation.
EPPO programme on quality assurance and accreditation. In 2003, a Panel was created to
identify critical elements in ISO Standard 17025 1 , and has developed a standard which
includes basic requirements for quality assurance in plant pest diagnostic laboratories (PM
7/84). This standard is being revised to include elements on method validation.
EPPO database on diagnostic capacities in the EPPO region. In 2004, EPPO members
stressed that the decrease of expertise in plant protection could jeopardize the implementation
of phytosanitary regulations for quarantine pests. It was then decided that an inventory of
diagnostic expertise should be made. EPPO has developed a database on diagnostic expertise
which is available on its website: www.eppo.org).
1
ISO/IEC Standard 17025 on "General requirements for the competence of testing and
calibration laboratories"
The PineWood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: The Result of Five
Years Survey in France
Anthoine, G. (1), A.M. Chappé (1), A. Buisson (1), L. Bouhot-Delduc (2), H. Marzin (3) & P.
Castagnone-Sereno (4).
(1) Laboratoire National de la Protection des Végétaux, Unité de nématologie, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327,
35653 LE RHEU cedex, France; (2) Ministère de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche, DGAL-SDQPV, Bureau Santé
des Végétaux, 251 rue de Vaugirard, 75732 Paris cedex 15, France; (3) CGAEER, 251 rue de Vaugirard, 75732
Paris cedex 15, France; (4) French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), UMR1301, Interactions
Biotiques et Santé Végétale, BP167, 400 route des Chappes, 06903 Sophia Antipolis cedex, France.
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a nematode of world wide concern and a major threat for pine
stands. In many countries it is listed as a quarantine pest. In the European Union, it has been
considered as such since 1986 (directive 86/546/EEC amending the annexes of directive
77/93/EEC, now replaced by directive 2000/29/EC). And the non-European populations of its
vector Monochamus spp. are also regulated since 1990 (directive 90/490/EEC). The recent
detection of B. xylophilus in Portugal (1999) resulted in supplementing the EU legislation: in
particular, since 2000, official annual survey are required within the EU members states to
allow early detection in the event of introduction of this nematode. In France, forests
represent around 15.5 millions hectares (approximately 28% of territory) including 4.4
millions hectares of conifers (33% of forestry area). A current objective of 350 samples is
taken each year in declining pines stands or risk areas (locations around points of import,
wood processing industries, where coniferous trees grow). They are analysed according to
EU recommendations (sampling regimes, handling, extraction and identification). Different
pine tree species are monitored: Pinus sylvestris, Pinus pinaster, Pinus nigra, Pinus
halepensis… The nematodes’ identification is mainly based on an initial morphological
identification confirmed by molecular test (PCR, PCR-RFLP). Among the 1.773 samples
collected from 2002 to 2006, B. xylophilus has never been identified, although some other
non-pathogenic and endemic Bursaphelenchus species (B. mucronatus, B. tusciae…) were
sometimes detected in the pine samples. The specific status of the sampled Bursaphelenchus
populations was also tested using new innovative molecular tools developed by INRA
(Sophia Antipolis, France) in the framework of the EU research projects PHRAME and
PORTCHECK, which confirmed the absence of B. xylophilus in French forests.
5 th International Congress of Nematology, 2008 328