Objectives
The main aim of this research focus is to investigate both biotic and abiotic factors contributing to the development and spread of viral disease epidemics in Europe, with a particular concentration on how future climatic conditions would affect the introduction and spread of viral diseases.
The specific objectives of the Spread of emerging viral diseases under climate change research focus are to:
• Identify climatic factors driving emergence and transmission of new viral diseases;
• Understand the role of seed transmission in the long-distance dispersal of viruses;
• Investigate the role of alternative host-plants in disease persistence in different ecologies;
• Understand virus-vector interactions in causing disease spread and outbreaks;
• Investigate how viruses “jump hosts” leading to new disease outbreaks;
• Determine the role of mixed viral infections in modulating host resistances and virus transmission;
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Approach
In the approach of this research focus, VIRTIGATION will investigate how the current and future climatic conditions might affect the introduction as well as the spread of viral diseases, by using the Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) as a model system. The project will also carry out a set of empirical studies on the role of alternative weed hosts, cropping systems and whitefly vectors, as well as the role of single and mixed infections of viruses contributing to the development of epidemics.
It will also increase understanding of how viruses evolve to “jump host” from one plant species to another (e.g. from tomatoes to cucurbits in the case of ToLCNDV in Europe), and how the transmission of viruses via seeds spreads them across international borders. All the knowledge and results generated in this research focus will feed into the other elements of the project’s research plan, but will be in particular relevant for the research focus on integrated virus and vector management, where it will feed into the development of sustainable control measures of emerging viral diseases in tomato and cucurbit plants.
Key partners involved
The Natural Research Institute within the University of Greenwich is leading the efforts of this research focus, benefitting from its longstanding expertise in understanding virus-vector transmission relationships and the influence of both biotic and abiotic factors in the development and spread of emerging viral diseases in plants.
The Natural Research Institute will be closely supported in the implementation of this research focus by CSIC – the Spanish National Research Council, CRAG – the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, VC: the Volcani Centre – Agricultural Research Organization of Israel, LIST – the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, WU – Wageningen University, INRAE – the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, and Scientia Terrae.
