Research project Development of crop-based survey tools for plants pests of fruit trees in the EU

General introduction

Within this project, ILVO collaborated at the request of EFSA (Plant Health Monitoring) on various new Pest Survey Cards (PSCs) concerning quarantine plant diseases and pests that could threaten apple, pear, plum, or cherry cultivation in the EU. Quarantine organisms are plant diseases or pests that Europe wants to keep out of its territory through a strict control and management regime. A PSC helps with this and is actually a kind of passport for a pest or disease: it contains everything you need to know to detect the insect or fungus, from its scientific name and distribution area to how it behaves, which plants it lives on, and how likely it is to establish itself here. ILVO took the lead in drawing up these PSCs for five fungal diseases: Apiosporina morbosa, Botryosphaeria kuwatsukai, non-EU Gymnosporangium species, Phyllosticta solitaria, and Venturia nashicola.

Research approach

Using EFSA guidelines and based on its own expertise, literature and database research, the research team characterized fruit tree crops affected by regulated pests. Technical reports on the pests were drawn up, which were then used to create official Pest Survey Cards. These cards contain up-to-date information on the taxonomy, distribution, biology, hosts, and possible establishment of the pest in the EU, factors associated with an increased risk of introduction and spread, and detection and identification methods.

Relevance/Valorization

In Europe, a whole team of scientists monitors the health of our crops. EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, ensures that what ends up on our plates is safe — and that starts with the plants in the field. Within EFSA, one team focuses specifically on plant health. Together with researchers, they draw up PSCs. These maps help EU member states detect plant diseases and pests that must absolutely stay out of Europe.

Financing

European Food Safety Agency (EFSA)