Welcome to the 7th edition of the VIRTIGATION project newsletter!
As the VIRTIGATION project has entered the final year of its duration, we provide you with an update on our latest activities, events and publications.
Furthermore, we explore our latest blog and social media series around the project’s topic of safeguarding tomato and cucurbit crops from emerging plant viruses, and inform about the upcoming guidance materials of the VIRTIGATION multi-actor network for project stakeholders.
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What’s new in VIRTIGATION?
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Save the date: from 8-11 April 2025, VIRTIGATION will co-host the International Advances in Plant Virology (IAPV) conference, which brings together leading plant virologists from across the world. The IAPV is run every three years by the Virology group of the renowned Association of Applied Biologists. On the 8th of April, our project will host a technical session on the design of new strategies for effective mitigation of ToBRFV in greenhouses. Find out more about the IAPV here in our blog.
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In September and October 2024, VIRTIGATION partners were present in key conference to showcase the latest project advances. The project was featured in two high-profile R&I conferences in Vienna, Austria and Cairo, Egypt. Spanish VIRTIGATION partners also participated in renowned virology and phytopathology congresses in Spain, which took place in Córdoba and Santiago de Compostela.
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On 28 June 2024, VIRTIGATION co-organised with its plant health sister projects a highly impactful online event on supporting the transition towards pesticide reduction in the EU. As the EU Commission is currently backtracking on its ambitions for reduction of chemical pesticides, this event came at a crucial time to create momentum for more ambitious, IPM-focused EU policies. 150 participants joined the event, in which scientists from our coordinator KU Leuven and partner DCM CORP highlighted our progress in finding new bio-based alternatives to chemical pesticides. Read the event recap here.
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VIRTIGATION ToBRFV experts contribute to update of the EPPO’s Pest Risk analysis for the virus: Leading scientists from our partners Volcani Center, Julius-Kühn Institut, Scientia Terrae and DCM CORP provided their latest research advancements in the field, in particular on ToBRFV transmission, eradication methods and the significance of mixed viral infections. A detailed breakdown of the contribution is available in this blog.
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New videos describing our research in brief
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As part of our multi-actor approach efforts, several VIRTIGATION partners have produced a new series of videos on our YouTube channel to briefly describe their ongoing research to stakeholders:
- Carmelo Rapisarda from partner University of Catania speaks about the project’s research on new natural insecticidal formulations for whitefly control: Video
- Lotte Caarls from partner Stichting Wageningen Research explains how their Eggsplorer software tool enables effective and efficient counting of whitefly eggs: Video
- Maria Schmidt from partner Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen talks about new methods for disinfection of Tobamovirus-contaminated growing media by heat: Video
- Matteo Ripamonti from partner Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology explains the project’s research on assessing the influence of climate change on the ToLCNDV virus and its insect vector, the Bemisia tabaci whitefly: Video
- Romanos Zois from partner Wageningen University explains the research on uncovering highly resistant plants to ToBRFV: Video
- Sam Dierickx from partner EMWEB unveils how EMWEB is adapting its Genome Detective software platform to plant virus epidemiology: Video
- Victor Golyaev from coordinator KU Leuven outlines how their research on pipelines based on long read Nanopore sequencing technology enable in-depth analysis of DNA and RNA virus population and thus facilitate the monitoring of potential virus outbreaks: Video
- Elise Vogel from partners DCM CORP and Scientia Terrae explains the project’s research on new integrated pest management strategies for control of the ToBRFV virus: Video
- Guadalupe López Díaz from partner TECNOVA finally describes how VIRTIGATION’s multi-actor approach both includes and benefits horticultural stakeholders: Video
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Coming up in the VIRTIGATION network!
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As VIRTIGATION partners are generating more and more publicly shareable project results, we are preparing a set of tailored guidance materials for the members of our multi-actor network.
In 2025, VIRTIGATION partners will organise a series of webinars to inform stakeholders about emerging project results, with focus on how these results could be applicable in e.g. daily operations of growers.
Curious to join the VIRTIGATION network? Find the multilingual forms to take part in the network below, and gain access to exclusive project content and valuable opportunities to obtain new, practical solutions to protect tomatoes and cucurbits from ToBRFV and ToLCNDV:
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Follow VIRTIGATION on its social media channels to stay updated on our progress, as we protect the plant health of tomatoes and cucurbits as key fruits and vegetables against the ToBRFV and ToLCNDV plant viruses.
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