The members of the Euphresco network propose a number of ideas each year. This can lead to transnational collaborations, provided that they raise enough interest, that coordinators are identified and national funds are committed.
Collaboration with non-Euphresco organisations (research institutes, universities, private companies and other plant health stakeholders) is encouraged and the administrative formalities are kept to a minimum. For any questions on how to be involved in Euphresco projects, please contact the Euphresco coordinator. The research ideas proposed for transnational collaboration in 2023 are presented below:
Further development of methods for the outbreak management of Popillia japonica that are in line with the plant protection product authorisation in the EU
The project will allow exchange of information and support the development of methods for the management of Popillia japonica e.g. attract and kill strategies, mass trapping with different lures, use of entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes.
Novel aerial spore trapping method for effective monitoring of the invasive fungal pathogens Lecanosticta acicola and Dothistroma septosporum in pine forests
The project will allow testing and validation of the novel spore trapping method for the surveillance of airborne pathogens.
Improved risk analysis for more efficient surveillance of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Based on high-resolution spatial data on host tree distribution, assessment of stand susceptibility and detailed information on trade, the project will develop knowledge to support surveillance of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.
Tests performance study for the detection of Aphelenchoides besseyi
A test performance study will be organised to evaluate the performance of selected diagnostic tests for the detection of Aphelenchoides besseyi in rice seeds.
Methods for forest protection in changing ecological conditions
The project will develop and validate methods for the protection of forests against selected pests and for the control of pests.
Tests performance study for the detection of Xanthomonas citri and Xanthomonas aurantifolii
A test performance study will be organised to evaluate the performance of selected diagnostic tests (including tests for field detection) of Xanthomonas citri and Xanthomonas aurantifolii.
Diagnosis, detection, and identification of rust fungi
A test performance study will be organised to evaluate the performance of selected diagnostic tests (e.g. high-throughput sequencing, mass spectrometry, serological tests) for the identification of rust fungi from the Pucciniales Order.
Continued Community Network for practices in Plant Virology
The project will be an opportunity for plant virologists to meet and exchange experiences and knowledge on the use of high-throughput sequences for certification, monitoring, etiology, etc.
Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and Ralstonia syzygii: emerging threats inside Europe and worldwide. Study on the epidemiology and the development and validation of detection and identification protocols
The project will gather bacteriologists that work on Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum and Ralstonia syzygii to meet and discuss the initiation of research projects, the sharing of reference material and the validation of diagnostic tests.
Alternatives to irradiation treatments for the control of quarantine pests affecting fruits
The project will develop/validate new methods for the control of pests in fruits as an alternative to irradiation.
Sampling methods (prior to diagnosis)
The project will develop/validate sampling methods for the surveillance/monitoring of pests.
Seed treatment for viruses
The project will develop/validate methods for the treatment of seeds against viruses.
Control of Agrilus planipennis (including biocontrol)
The project will develop/validatemethods for the control of Agrilus planipennis, with a particular focus on biocontrol using parasitoids.
Role of Tenuipalpid mites and associated pathogens in shoot-wilt and decreased cone production in stone pine plantations
The project will allow to gather knowledge on the biology and epidemiology of Tenuipalpid mites and to evaluate the risks for the stone pine industry.
Searching for Xiphinema species that transmit viruses in vineyards
The project will study the prevalence of Xiphinema species and the nepoviruses that may be associated with it and transmitted to grapevine.
Virulence of potato cyst nematode populations used for testing potato varieties to assess resistance
The project will allow the virulence of reference populations of Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis to be assessed and compared with that of populations in the field.
Collaborations through mentoring, learning and expertise exchange
The project will provide an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between experts from the Australian national plant diagnostics and surveillance networks and experts from other countries. Activities will cover e.g. diagnostics/surveillance residential exchanges, training, participation in workshops, development/validation of diagnostic tests, mentorship for students and early career scientists.
Use of artificial intelligence/machine learning to improve survey techniques and survey tools for forest and tree crops
The project will develop/validate protocols for the surveillance of tree pests based on remote sensing technologies.
Collections – referenced vouchered specimens of priority plant pests
The project aims to raise awareness and promote the importance of Australian reference collections and databases.
Discovering the VOCs that govern the interactions of box trees (Buxus spp.) with the invasive box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) and box blight fungi (Calonectria spp.)
The project will study volatiles released by Boxus spp. under different conditions of infection and pruning regimes and to test/validate their use as repellents or lures for Cydalima perspectalis and Calonectria spp.
Review of International Best Practice for Robust Border Security
The project will gather knowledge on best practices for robust biosecurity surveillance and on the most promising emerging diagnostic tools for surveillance.
FraxNet: a network for reviving ash in Europe
The project will support the development of a network of researchers and plant health specialists to work on: reviving ash populations, identifying future threats from pests ; gathering information on biodiversity and ecology.
Surveillance for viruses and other non-culturable pathogens of forestry tree species
The project will allow knowledge to be gathered on viruses for selected forest trees and other tree species in order to support risk analysis, surveillance and diagnostic activities.
Valorization of HTS output data to enable a timely risk assessment of regulated or emerging plant viruses
The project will define criteria for the identification of viral sequences within available HTS screening data and allow the molecular characterization of selected viruses/viroids to develop knowledge that can be used in risk assessment.
Modern diagnostic methods of bunt fungi of the genus Tilletia in seed and grain products
The project will develop/validate tests for the detection and identification of Tilletia spp. in seeds.
Biological treatment schemes for plants and plant products infested with plant pests
The project will study the feasibility and efficacy of biological treatments of plants and plant products infested by quarantine pests and diseases, including those defined as priorities at EU-level.
Modernization of taxonomic keys and molecular tests for the diagnosis of Aphelenchoides spp.
The project will allow development/validation of morphological and molecular tests for the detection and identification of Aphelenchoides spp.
Diagnostic tools to identify invasive snail and earthworm species
The project will develop/validate tests for the identification of snail and earthworm species and methods for collecting and storing DNA reference material
Validation of HTS-based workflows for the international movement of propagative plant material
The project will develop/validate a simplified experimental diagnostic workflow for plant virus detection by high-throughput sequencing for the movement of propagative plant material.
Tests performance study for the detection of Phyllosticta citricarpa, causal agent of Citrus Black Spot
A test performance study will be organised to evaluate the performance of selected diagnostic tests (including tests for field detection) of Phyllosticta citricarpa.
Whole genome sequencing for the identification of plant pathogenic bacteria
The project will facilitate exchange of experiences and knowledge on whole genome sequencing and organize a (dry-lab) test performance study to compare critical points.
Surveying for Dickeya fangzhongdai and assessing the risk
The project will (i) collect data on the occurrence of Dickeya fangzhongdai through surveys in relevant environmental niches (e.g. water) and host plants (e.g. potatoes, onions, ornamental plants) and analysis of historical strains deposited in working culture collections, and (ii) develop knowledge on the risks.
Validation of digital PCR for the detection of X. fastidiosa in symptomatic host plants
The project will generate preliminary validation data for digital PCR and real-time PCR for selected matrices of symptomatic samples e.g. Citrus spp.
Evaluation of tare soil and piler dirt sampling methods for potato wart pathogen
The project will evaluate soil collection methods to improve sampling efficiency in potato wart surveys. Collection of tare soil or piler dirt will be of primary interest, since sampling soil in close association with the tubers is favoured using these methods.
Development of MALDI-TOF Expert Spectral Libraries for the rapid identification of plant pathogenic fungi
The project will develop mass spectra of selected fungal genera and develop/validate protocols for MALDI-TOF sample extraction/target plate preparation for plant pathogenic fungi.
Interlaboratory study on non-commercially available MALDI-TOF MS databases
The project will build on the outputs of the Euphresco project 2018-A-271 and validate the use of in-house spectral libraries for the identification of bacteria.
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