Supporting VITIculture expansion in BELgium through knowledge building on phytosanitary risks and diagnostics while raising plant health awareness among stakeholders

General introduction

Overall purpose of the project is to build more knowledge on the presence of viruses and bacteria in viticulture in Belgium. Viticulture is growing rapidly in Belgium, yet not much is known on the presence of viruses and bacteria of phytosanitary impact. 

Research approach

In a first stage, a monitoring campaign of Belgian vineyards is performed. We evaluate symptoms and take samples. After subsampling, a virome scanning is performed using Illumina sequencing (dsRNA based or total RNA based) for the viruses and viroids and metabarcoding (multilocus) using MinIon (ONT; Oxford nanopore sequencing technology) for the phloem bacteria (phytoplasma, such as flavescence doréee and bois noir). In addition, specific molecular will be used (PCR, qPCR, nested PCR) as targeted tests to screen for the presence of viruses and phytoplasma. If needed, optimization of published tests, and even development of new tests is planned. For the HTS techniques (Illumina sequencing and MinIon sequencing), also adapted bioinformatic pipelines are used for the analysis of the raw data. 

Relevance/Valorisation

VITIBEL aims to strengthen Belgian capacity to detect those regulated pests and to react to an outbreak through (i) gathering relevant information (based on existing PRA, on contact with neighboring countries); (ii) appropriate training of inspectors and growers for symptom recognition, (iii) the selection and validation of reliable diagnostic tests, and (iv) dissemination of information to stakeholders.

Funding provider(s)
FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de voedselketen en Leefmilieu

External partner(s)
ULG - Université de Liège - Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech