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INTERNATIONAL
NEWSLETTER ON PLANT PATHOLOGY
ISPP
Newsletter 32 (4) August 2002
(UK
Registered Charity No 1065521)
Material
for the Newsletter is invited from individual members of ISPP, Associated
Societies, Council members, Chairs of all Committees and representatives
of Affiliated Societies and Supporting Organisations.
Editor, Brian J. Deverall,
e-mail: bdeveral@mail.usyd.edu.au
In this issue:
ISPP participation in the World Food
Summit follow-up
Paul Teng <paul.s.teng@monsanto.com>
participated on behalf of the International Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP)
in the World Food Summit/Five Years Later held in the FAO, Rome, Italy, from
10-13 June 2002. He reported to the ISPP Executive along the following
lines:
More than 6,000 participants registered, representing 181
countries and 1,000 non-governmental organizations. Two heads of state from
the developed world attended along with seventy-two heads from developing
countries. Security was so tight at the Summit that only a handful of
delegates were allowed into the Plenary session to listen to the speeches by
heads of state. All the speeches given, and the resulting declaration, are
on the FAO WFS website <http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsummit>.
The outcomes showed that the goal of the WFS made five years
ago to reduce the number of hungry people has not been met.
An ISPP statement on initiatives on global food security
made since the last ICPP in 1988 in Edinburgh, UK, was submitted for
distribution but it was difficult to assess its impact or which of its
contents were incorporated into the Summit’s statements and proceedings.
This was because there were hundreds of submissions but only official
government delegates were accorded the right of making comment on official
Summit documents. The role of science and technology was generally endorsed
by the Summit, although there was caution on the use of biotechnology.
Paul made a number of recommendations to the ISPP Executive
mainly about ways in which ISPP could be effective in future UN-sponsored
meetings and in post-summit participation.
Further participation could be through the Type 2
Initiatives proposed by CropLife International for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August 2002. CropLife
International is a global federation representing the plant science
industry. It supports a network of 75 regional and national associations and
their member companies worldwide, led by companies such as BASF, Bayer
CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, Dupont, FMC, Monsanto, Sumitomo and Syngenta.
It seeks to promote the benefits of crop protection and biotechnology
products and their importance to sustainable agriculture and food
production. Contact Stephen Weller, CropLife International Communication
Manager; e-mail: <stephen@croplife.org>
or Carolyn Gill, CropLife International Public Relations Officer; e-mail:
<Carolyn@croplife.org>.
Participation could also be through the "Partnership to
Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa" program headed by the USA government.
ISPP could help with technical support for programs by non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) on food security, perhaps through an ad hoc
committee of those in the membership who are interested, to determine scope
of participation and liaison with development NGOs.
Ballot for new ISPP Executive
The ISPP Secretary-General, Charlie Delp at <charliedelp@hotmail.com>,
has sent out a ballot for new officers of ISPP for the period 2003-2008. It
was posted to those Councilors for whom he does not have e-mail addresses
and also put on ISPP-List. Only Councilors can vote.
This is a reminder that ISPP Councilors should return their
votes to Charlie Delp if they have not already voted. Also if they have not
received a ballot, they should contact him.
Non-Pesticide Methods for Controlling
Diseases and Insect Pests
A Seminar on Non-Pesticide Methods for Controlling Diseases
and Insect Pests was organized by the Asian Productivity Organization (APO),
hosted by the Government of Japan and held in Tokyo from 10 – 17 April
2002. The Association for International Cooperation of Agriculture and
Forestry (AICAF) with financial and technical cooperation of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) implemented the program. Sixteen
participants from 12 APO member countries and five resources speakers from
the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, the International
Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP), the National Agricultural Research
Center, Japan, and the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences,
Japan, attended the seminar.
The objectives of the seminar were to: 1) review the present
situation in using non-pesticide methods in member countries, and 2)
identify and formulate measures for addressing issues and problems in
promoting the use of non-pesticide methods.
The seminar included presentation of resource papers and
country papers, workshop and field visits to the Ibaraki Prefecture.
A resource paper on non-pesticide methods for managing crop
diseases reviewed the current status of regulatory (including quarantine and
pathogen-free schemes), cultural, and biological control methods together
with the use of host plant resistance. The paper identified the need for a
range of options to be considered and integrated to achieve the objective of
sustainable crop disease management. It saw a need to improve researcher,
extension worker and farmer training and to strengthen institutions and
facilitate networking and communication among pathologists in the region,
together with informing the general public and government policy makers. The
International Society for Plant Pathology can contribute substantially here.
Another resource paper covered "Control of Plant Virus
Disease by Cross Protection in Japan".
During the seminar, a workshop identified technical,
socio-economic and policy issues that constrained the development of
non-pesticide methods.
Conclusions and recommendations from the seminar were:
1) Imperative to promote use of non-pesticide methods in
agriculture.
2) Non-pesticide methods to be used whenever possible and should be an
integral part of an overall ecological Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
program.
3) Further government support needed to strengthen multidisciplinary basic
and applied research on non-pesticide methods and applying such methods in
IPM programs.
4) A mechanism to be established to provide premium prices for the
pesticide-free products.
5) Farmers be educated and trained to build up their skills and knowledge of
non-pesticide methods. An IPM Farmer Field School (FFS) approach was
strongly recommended. These activities should be complemented by the NGOs,
CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) and other public-based groups including
consumer associations.
6) Further cooperation and coordination among national, regional and
international organizations will be inevitable for launching an effective
movement to minimize the use of chemical pesticides while maximizing the use
of non-pesticide methods to ensure food quality assurance.
Dr Danny Hunter, Team Leader (TaroGen), AusAID/SPC Taro
Genetic Resources, The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Private Mail
Bag, Suva, Fiji; Phone: +679-370-733; Fax: +679-370-021; e-mail: <DannyH@spc.int>.
News from China
The leadership of the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology (CSPP)
changed at its 7th CSPP Congress, which closed on 8 April 2002.
The new President of the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology
is Professor Youliang Peng, Department of Plant Pathology, China
Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, PR China; e-mail: <president@cspp.org.cn>.
The CSPP Secretary-General is Mr Yanjun Li, Associate
Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, China Agricultural University,
Beijing 100094, PR China; Phone: +86-10-6289-1025; Fax: +86-10-6281-3785;
e-mail: <secretary-general@cspp.org.cn>.
There are 8 Vice-Presidents as follows:
Mr Hairu Chen, Professor, College of Plant Protection,
Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, Yunnan Province, PR China;
Phone: +86-871- 522-7747; Fax: +1-86-871-522-7096; e-mail: <hrchen@mail.ynau.edu.cn>.
Mr Rongxiang Fang, Professor, The Institute of Microbiology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100080, PR China; Phone:
+86-10-6254-8243; Fax: +86-10-6254-8243; e-mail: <fangrx@sun.im.ac.cn>.
Dr Zhensheng Kang, Professor,
Department of Plant Protection, Northwest Agricultural University,
Yangling 712100, Shanxi Province, PR China; Phone:
+86-29-709-1312: Fax: +86-29-709-2402; e-mail: <kangzs@nwsuaf.edu.cn>.
Mr Yufa Peng, Professor, Institute
of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, Beijing 100094, PR China; Phone: +86-10-6281-5947; e-mail: <pyf@caascose.net.cn>.
Dr Huimin Wang , Professor, Department of Plant Pathology,
China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, PR China; Phone:
+86-10-6289-3018, Fax: +86-10-6289-3532; e-mail: <wangjh@mail.cau.edu.cn>.
Dr Zhenzhong Wang, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology,
South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong Province,
PR China; Phone: +86-20-8528-1469; Fax: +86-20-8528-2252; e-mail: <zzwang@scau.edu.cn>.
Dr Fujiang Wen, Professor, Department of Plant Protection,
Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, Shandong Province, PR
China; Phone: +86-538-824-2632; Fax: +86-10-822-6399; e-mail: <fjwen@sdau.edu.cn>.
Dr Mingguo Zhou, Professor, College of Plant Protection,
Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu Province, PR China;
Phone: +86-25-439-5641; Fax: +86-25-439-5641; e-mail: <mgzhou@njau.edu.cn>.
Professor Jinsheng Wang, Professor Songlin Liu and Professor
Wenhua Tang will attend the ISPP Congress (ICPP2003) as official
representatives from the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology.
XI Annual Meeting of the Spanish
Phytopathological Society
The Spanish Phytopathological Society will hold its 11th
Biannual Meeting in Almerimar, El Ejido, Almeria, Spain, from 14-18 October
2002. The meeting will cover many important subjects in plant pathology such
as: etiology, diagnosis, epidemiology, pathogenesis, resistance, and control
of plant diseases caused by viruses, viroids, phytoplasmas, bacteria, fungi
and nematodes. A technical conference on "Emergent Diseases in East
Almeria", a Round Table on "Regulations on Plant Health" and
a Symposium on "New Phytopathological Challenges in Horticultural
Crops" will also take place.
For further information, see <http://www.ual.es/personal/egallego/congresef>
or contact Isabel Cuadrado <fiapa@fiapa.es>,
Chairman of the Organization Committee, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almeria,
Spain.
Report on the International Plant
Virus Epidemiology Symposium
This successful and stimulating international symposium was
held in the substantial and well set out conference venue, the Bestehornhaus,
in the centre of Aschersleben, Germany, from 12-17 May 2002. The symposium
was well attended by 155 participants from 35 different countries from five
continents. It was the eighth in the series of international symposia held
every three years under the auspices of the Plant Virus Epidemiology
Committee of the International Society for Plant Pathology.
The programme started on the evening of 12 May with
registration and a welcoming reception in the town hall hosted by the Mayor
of Aschersleben. On 13 May, the opening session included three brief
presentations by Thomas Kuehne, the principal symposium organiser, the Mayor
of Aschersleben, and Manfred Lueckemeyer representing the German Federal
Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture. Historical accounts
were provided of the town of Aschersleben and its Agricultural Research
Station founded in 1920 and rebuilt after the second world war by Professor
Maximillian Klinkowski. Since 1992, the two institutes in Ascherleben
(Institute for Resistance Research and Pathogen Diagnostics, and Institute
for Epidemiology and Resistance) have belonged to the newly founded Federal
Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants (www.bafz.de). Their
current main research emphasis is on pathogen resistance and epidemiology of
plant pathogens.
The opening presentations were followed by the Chairman’s’
address in which Roger Jones (Australia) spoke on the topic "Using
epidemiological information to develop effective integrated virus disease
management strategies". He stressed the dangers associated with
deploying single control measures against virus diseases and the synergistic
benefits that result from combining control measures with different modes of
action. The types of epidemiological information needed before effective
integrated management strategies can be developed for specific pathosystems
were described. Integrated virus disease management strategies need to be
‘tailor-made’ by selecting the mix of host resistance, cultural,
chemical or biological control measures most suited to each individual
pathosystem. He gave examples illustrating integrated management strategies
designed for viral pathogens transmitted in different ways.
The first major session was on "Virus resistance in
plants". It started with invited contributions on "Durable virus
resistance through conventional approaches" by Herve Lecoq (France) and
"Molecular-biological aspects of virus resistance" by Jari
Valconnen (Sweden). In a comprehensive review Lecoq described how different
types of host resistance to viruses operate, how virus evolution can combat
host resistance, and the tendency of resistance-breaking strains to be
poorly competitive in mixed infection with other strains. The numbers of
nucleotide changes in the virus genome required to overcome host resistance
contribute to its durability. Combining cultural control measures with virus
resistance approaches improves resistance durability. Valconnen described
how single dominant and recessive resistance genes operate, and the way
isolation and characterisation of resistance genes can provide novel
insights into virus resistance mechanisms, viral synergism and the ‘recovery’
phenomenon. During the last two years genes controlling RNA silencing
(encoding polymerases and helicase) and a universal RNA surveillance system
(encoding calmodulin-related protein) have been found in plants. The helper
protein of potyviruses (HC-pro) and several other viral proteins can act as
silencing suppressors.
The papers in the rest of the virus resistance session were
on:- control of mite-transmitted pigeon pea sterility mosaic disease in
India through viral resistance (Jones, Scotland); ability of barley yellow
mosaic virus 2 to overcome the rym4 resistance gene in barley and the
pivotal role played by viral RNA1 in this (Kuehne, Germany); the outstanding
performance of transgenic resistance to cucumber fruit mottle virus in
cucumbers carrying viral coat protein or replicase genes (Gal-on, Israel);
the behaviour of pathogen-derived resistance in transgenic plums challenged
with aphid inoculated plum pox virus and exposed for 5 years in the field (Ravelandro,
France); and the instability under field conditions of pathogen-derived
resistance to potato virus Y in potato (Schubert, Germany). In the evening,
participants were treated to an interesting sightseeing tour of Aschersleben
complete with a church organ recital.
On 14 May there was a full day session on ‘Virus-vector
interactions", which started with an invited presentation from Edgar
Schliephake (Germany) on "Aphid behaviour and virus transmission".
He reviewed the features of aphids (flight, dispersion, reproduction, host
recognition, feeding habits, etc.) that make them well suited to
transmitting viruses, surviving adverse environmental conditions and rapidly
exploiting opportunities to colonise plants. The advantages and
disadvantages of using different types of insect traps in epidemiological
studies were discussed along with use of electrical penetration graph data
to provide information about probing and virus transmission by aphids.
There followed a series of papers on:- detecting
RNA-amplifiable citrus tristeza virus by squash capture-PCR in aphids
visiting citrus trees (Cambra, Spain); using chimaeric viruses to determine
molecular mechanisms of transmission of beet western yellows and cucurbit
aphid-borne yellows viruses by aphids (Herrbach, France); and the
specificity of the potyvirus helper component in aphid transmission using
turnip mosaic and zuchinni yellow mosaic viruses as a model (Huet, Israel).
The ‘virus-vector interaction’ session continued with papers
discussing:- using aphid vector resistance to control groundnut rosette
virus disease in the sub Sahara (Willekens, UK); whitefly transmission of
different sweet potato viruses (Valverde, USA); the relationship between
cucumber vein yellowing virus and its whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci
(Caciagli, France); genotypic variation in Bemisia tabaci in Africa (Abdullahi,
(Germany), and transmission of wheat dwarf virus by the leafhopper Psammotettix
alienus (Manurung, Germany). In a comprehensive presentation on
the relationship between thrips development and tospovirus transmission,
Moritz (Germany) reported that the separation of salivary gland from mid gut
during larval development is the reason why only first and early second
instar thrips larvae can acquire tospoviruses.
The final two papers on the "virus-vector"
interaction topic were on:- festuca leaf streak virus reaching the salivary
gland being responsible for its transmission by its plant hopper vector Javesella
pellucida (Lundsgaard, Denmark), and an entertaining contribution on
contact transmission of rice yellow mottle virus in rice crops by rats and
cattle (Sarra, Mali). The day finished with an introduction to the
Scientific Excursion to be held on the following day, and a well attended
open meeting that elected new representatives to the Plant Virus
Epidemiology Committee of the ISPP, and discussed possible future symposia
sponsored by the Committee.
On 15 May, the Scientific Excursion took place in which
three experimental sites were visited. An explanatory excursion booklet
provided useful historical background and helpful information about the work
being done at the three sites which were:
1. The Institute of Horticultural Crops at Quedlinburg.
Here we saw an impressive field experiment in which a large number of
brassica species infected with turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) showed a diverse
array of viral symptoms. TuMV-resistant brassica germplasm was
demonstrated along with new TuMV resistance sources in Chinese cabbage,
horse-radish, primitive forms of cabbage and Raphanobrassica hybrids,
and breeding lines of cauliflower with resistance to TuMV. The programme
of breeding different brassica species for TuMV resistance was described
by the researcher involved (Reiner Kraemer) and a useful detailed
explanatory handout provided.
2. At Morgenrot we saw extensive virus field trials plots
belonging to the private plant breeding company "Saatzucht Joseph
Breun GdbR". Here, large-scale breeding of barley for resistance to
barley yellow mosaic and barley mild mosaic viruses is underway on land
heavily infested with both. Susceptible and resistant responses to
challenge with soil-borne virus inoculum were clearly evident in the
plots.
3. At Gatersleben, we visited the genebank of the
Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research at Gatersleben. This
modern genebank is one of the biggest in the world holding more than
10,000 accessions. It plays an important role as a genetic resource for
plant breeders and in preventing genetic erosion in crop plants and their
wild relatives.
On 16 May, the morning session topic was "Molecular and
general virus epidemiology". It started with an invited presentation
from Rene van der Vlught (Netherlands) entitled "Plant virus
epidemiology: facts and future". He emphasised how understanding the
disease triangle and the interactions between its constituents
[virus-host-environment] is essential to assess risk of epidemic
development. Use of modern techniques for virus detection assist enormously
in obtaining information needed to develop this understanding. He gave the
recent European outbreaks of potato virus Y-NTN strain in potato and pepino
mosaic virus in tomato as examples of where the latest molecular and
immunological methods had been successfully deployed for this purpose.
This epidemiology session included a series of more
molecular papers on:- molecular variation of two distinct strains of wheat
dwarf virus differing in host preference and nucleic acid sequence, one from
wheat and the other barley (Kvarnheden, Sweden); variations in the coat
proteins of field populations of maize dwarf mosaic virus from corn
(Salomon, Israel); and characterisation of Zanzibar cassava mosaic virus, a
new cassava virus (Maruthi, UK). A paper by Harper (UK) described how banana
streak virus disease can arise in banana plants from release stimulated by
‘stressful conditions’ of integrated copies of the virus sequence
incorporated within the host B genome. He reported that such incorporation
into the viral genome also occurs widely with other badnaviruses in several
different crop plants.
More traditional virus epidemiology papers in this session
described:- western flower thrips vectored outbreaks of tomato spotted wilt
virus in potato (Thompson, South Africa); the aphid vector species behaviour
and epidemiology of viruses infecting lettuce and broccoli crops (Fereres,
Spain); the biotic factors driving epidemics of tomato leaf curl virus in
India (Colvin, UK); the epidemiology and control of carrot virus Y (Latham,
Australia); the current continent-wide position with the African pandemic of
cassava mosaic virus (Legg, Uganda); and spread of little cherry disease (Eppler,
Germany).
On 16 May, the afternoon session topic was "Dynamics of
virus spread". Mike Thresh (UK) provided a comprehensive invited review
of spatial patterns of virus spread. He described (with examples) the
influence on spatial virus pattern of wind direction, wind breaks,
hedgerows, headlands, contour banks, row spacing, plant density, irrigation
channels, field size and shape, field aspect and undulation, plot size and
shape, etc. He provided examples of random, clumped and systematic patterns
in the distribution of diseased plants for scenarios with soil-borne and
aerial vectors, and with internal or external virus infection sources. He
also discussed different types of virus infection gradients. These spatial
patterns and gradients influence the effectiveness of isolation and other
approaches to virus control by an appropriate disposition of planting’s to
prevent or delay virus spread.
Then, papers followed on:- spread of iris yellow spot
tospovirus by Thrips tabaci in onion crops (Gera, Israel); decreasing
spread of tomato spotted wilt virus by thrips in thrips-resistant pepper (Maris,
Netherlands); modelling tomato spotted wilt virus epidemics in potatoes
(Jericho, Australia); and the epidemiology of several viruses in different
crops in the Ukraine (Polischuk, Ukraine). Thackray (Australia) described a
well-validated simulation model that uses pre-growing season rainfall to
forecast aphid outbreaks and barley yellow dwarf virus epidemics in a
typical Mediterranean-type climate. Predictions for date of aphid arrival,
amount of virus spread, yield losses and the need for early insecticide
sprays are provided.
At the conference dinner that followed, participants were
treated to a delicious multiple course meal + a choice of wines, followed by
typical folksinging by singers from the Harz mountains complete with
yodelling and audience participation. Presentations were made to Thomas
Kuehne to thank him and the Aschersleben team for all the hard work in
organising such a successful conference and to Gerhard Proeseler for his
role in the conference organisation and to wish him well in his retirement.
The evening was rounded off with dancing to music played by a local popular
music group. An excellent evenings’ entertainment was had by all.
On 17 May, the final session of the conference dealt with
"Strategies for virus control". Francisco Morales (Colombia) set
the scene with an invited presentation on "ecology and epidemiology of
whitefly-transmitted viruses in Latin America". This was a
"big-picture" paper that started by outlining which virus diseases
are currently most important economically on major crops grown from Mexico
and the Caribbean islands in the north right through to the southern cone of
South America. He emphasised the widespread damage caused by
whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses and discussed modelling studies using the
FloraMap program with data from 304 geo-referenced points that help explain
their distribution. The key to occurrence is climatic conditions that favour
their vector Bemisia tabci – in particular a dry season of at least
4 months and a mean temperature above 21oC for the hottest month of the
year.
The presentations on control strategies that followed dealt
with:- extension and uptake by farmers of single control measures versus
integrated control approaches for managing cassava mosaic virus (Sseruwagi,
Uganda); using cross protection with mild cassava mosaic strains to prevent
infection by severe ones in a post epidemic situation (Owor, Uganda); using
resistant cultivars and phytosanitary measures to control sweet potato virus
disease caused by mixed infection with sweet potato chlorotic stunt and
sweet potato feathery mottle viruses (Gibson, UK); successful breeding of
tomato resistant to tomato leaf curl virus (Muniyappa, India);
hypersensitive and susceptible responses of rootstock’s to infection with
prunus necrotic ringspot and prune dwarf viruses (Lankes, Germany), and
successful use of physical barriers, neem oil and Bion to control spread of
potato virus Y in seed potatoes (Legorburu, Spain). In a talk addressing the
important issue of how to control viruses in organic crops without access to
herbicides or pesticides, Doring (Germany) demonstrated good suppression of
spread of potato virus Y using straw mulch groundcover to decrease aphid
vector landing rates in organic seed potato production.
One of the very important features of the symposium not
mentioned above was the large number of interesting posters, more than 100
posters in total on a very diverse array of topics. In particular, the
posters linked to the session topic "Molecular and general virus
epidemiology" was most impressive in both size and content. They
consisted of 60 different posters addressing a very diverse set of
epidemiological themes, confirming that plant virus epidemiology is alive
and well in the new millennium!
The conference ended with an open discussion involving
contributions from invited speakers and the audience on three topics:-
likely virological consequences of further spread of the B type of Bemisia
tabaci within Africa; future prospects for deployment of plants with
pathogen-derived transgenic virus resistance in different parts of the
world; how to use limited financial resources to best effect when funding
epidemiology research; and how best to foster a partnership of mutual
benefit between researchers involved in molecular laboratory research and
those involved in practical field epidemiology studies.
This eighth in the series of triennial International
Symposia on Plant Virus Epidemiology was not only scientifically stimulating
but also very efficiently organised. It successfully maintained the high
standards set by past meetings of the International Virus Epidemiology
Group. The weekend ‘Spring Festival’ that greeted participants on
arrival at Aschersleben, with street entertainment and a throng of happy
people, the warm spring weather and sunshine every day, the spring flowers
and trees out in blossom, and the many attractive traditional-style German
buildings in the town all helped to provide an ideal ‘backdrop’ to the
event.
The Mayor of Aschersleben who graciously provided the
reception and facilities, the German organising committee, and especially
Thomas Kuehne and the staff of the two Aschersleben Institutes (Institute
for Resistance Research and Pathogen Diagnostics, and Institute for
Epidemiology and Resistance) are to be congratulated warmly over a job well
done.
Roger Jones <rjones@agric.wa.gov.au>.
Diagnostic Service for Geminiviruses
The University of Costa Rica offers a diagnostic service for
geminiviruses through its Program PCDV-CIBCM. This service is offered for
technical staff and for farmers of Costa Rica and the Central American
region by contacting Dr Pilar Ramírez, CIBCM, Universidad de Costa Rica,
San José, Costa Rica; Phone: +506-207-3192, Fax: +506-207-3190; e-mail:
<pramirez@cibcm.ucr.ac.cr>.
Geminiviruses cause important diseases of many crops and
wild species of the tropics and subtropics, and are transmitted by
whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). Severe losses occur in some crops
of Central America, South America and the Caribbean affecting the livelihood
of peasant and small scale farmers.
Chestnut Blight Disease
A symposium on "Chestnut Blight: A Ten-Year Study of
Disease Management Using Hypoviruses" was held at the Annual Meeting of
the American Phytopathological Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on 30
July 2002.
One of the worst diseases ever imported into the USA,
chestnut blight struck trees which have been long appreciated for their
beauty and prized as a source of lumber due to their rot-resistant wood.
Jane Cummings Carlson, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and local
coordinator of a Wisconsin research project, stated that "These were
giant trees, measuring 80 to 120 feet in height. Within fifty years of its
discovery in 1904, chestnut blight had virtually destroyed more than 3.5
billion trees, driving the American chestnut to near extinction."
On 90 acres of unglaciated hillside in western Wisconsin,
researchers have attempted to slow the movement of chestnut blight on more
than 3,000 trees, originally planted in the 1880’s. The blight fungus
arrived at this stand in 1987 and has been the focus of a biological control
study ever since. In the last two decades, attempts have been made to
debilitate the fungus by infecting it with a virus, through hypovirulence,
thus giving chestnuts a chance for survival against a much less potent
fungal pathogen. Once introduced into a few trees, hypovirulence may spread
throughout the forest. Whether hypovirulence can ultimately help save what
remains of the American chestnut is yet to be seen.
Researchers in other parts of the U.S. have been
experimenting with hypovirulent strains, as reported at the symposium, which
also included a tour of the Wisconsin research site on the previous day.
Cindy Ash, Director Scientific Services, American
Phytopathological Society; Phone: +1-651-454-7250, or see <www.apsnet.org>.
North American Plant Protection
Organisation (NAPPO)
This is to advise that the Provisional Agenda for the Annual
Meeting of NAPPO to be held in Oaxaca, Mexico, from 21-25 October 2002 is
available at <www.nappo.org>.
NAPPO, a Regional Plant Protection Organization of the
International Plant Protection Convention, coordinates the efforts among
Canada, the United States and Mexico to protect their plant resources from
the entry, establishment and spread of regulated plant pests, while
facilitating intra/interregional trade.
For further information, contact Dr Gustavo Frias; e-mail:
<gfrias@sagarpa.gob.mx>; or
Alba Campos, NAPPO Executive Assistant, Observatory Cr., Bldg. No. 3,
Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6 Canada; Fax: +1-613-759-6141;
e-mail: <camposa@inspection.gc.ca>.
The 1st Australian Medicago truncatula
Workshop
This will be held from the 10 to 13 November 2002 on
Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia.
Medicago truncatula has emerged in the last
few years as the major model legume species. It is internationally
recognised as the focal species for studies on plant-rhizobial and
mycorrhizal interactions and is increasingly being used to study fungal,
insect and nematode interactions as well as a diverse array of developmental
questions.
The goals of the workshop are to showcase the work of the
leading international and Australian Medicago researchers, highlight the
molecular genetic resources that the growing Medicago community has created
and to show how study of Medicago can have immediate benefits for research
in crop and pasture legumes. Symposia will focus on symbioses, pests and
diseases, functional genomics, bioinformatics and legume synteny. Discussion
sessions will cover cultivation methods, genetic resources, transformation,
gene expression and data handling and will include a compilation of the most
current protocols on some of these areas.
See the website: <http://wwwcbbc.murdoch.edu.au/AMtW>.
For further information, contact Dr Geoff Dwyer, SABC,
Murdoch University, Perth, 6150, Western Australia; Fax: +61-8-9360 7405;
e-mail: <G.Dwyer@murdoch.edu.au>.
Notice for ISPP Councilors
ISPP Councilors should verify their authority to represent
their society on the Council and inform the ISPP Secretary General, Charles
Delp, at <charliedelp@hotmail.com>
giving a contact e-mail address and if possible an indication that they are
planning to attend the 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology in
Christchurch, New Zealand, from 2-7 February 2003. Their official
participation is important at a meeting during the Congress. Council will
vote soon for the next ISPP Executive Committee and for the country to host
the 2008 ISPP Congress.
ISPP World Directory Data & Updates
The ISPP World Directory of Plant Pathologists at <http://www.isppweb.org>
includes membership data from 17 participating societies. It is time to
include your society’s membership data or to update previously submitted
data.
Please contact the Directory Facilitator, Charles Delp, at
<charliedelp@hotmail.com>
for information.
Coming Events
35th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Phytopathological
Society in Recife, Brazil.
4-9 August 2002.
Contact: Professor Sami J Michereff, <michereff@uol.com.br>,
Chairman of the Organization Committee, Federal Rural University of
Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. See: <http://www.sbfito.com.br/sbfito/congresso/index.htm>.
1st Joint Conference of the ISHS
Working Groups on Vegetable Viruses and Legume Viruses in
Bonn, Germany.
4-9 August 2002.
Contact: H J Vetten, BBA, Institut PS, Messeweg 11-12, D-38104 Braunschweig,
Germany; Fax: +49-531-299-3006; e-mail: <H.J.Vetten@bba.de>.
XXVIth International Horticultural
Congress & Exhibition in Toronto,
Canada.
11-17 August 2002.
See: <www.ihc2002.org>.
Contact: IHC2002 c/o Congress Canada, 49 Bathurst Street, Suite 100,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada MSV 2P2; e-mail: <IHCreg@congressscan.com>.
EFPP 2002: Disease Resistance in Plant
Pathology, Sixth Conference of European Foundation for Plant Pathology in
Prague, Czech Republic.
9-14 September 2002.
Contact: J Polak; Fax: +420-2333-11592; e-mail: <EFPP2002@vurv.cz>.
6th International Conference on Pseudomonas
syringae Pathovars and Related Pathogens
in Maratea, Potenza, Italy.
15-19 September 2002.
Contact: Nicola Sante Iacobellis, Dipartimento di Biologia, Difesa e
Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, Universita degli Studi della Basilicata,
Italy; e-mail: <pseudomonassyringae@unibas.it>.
International Rice Congress 2002
(IRC2002) in Beijing, China.
16-20 September 2002.
See the web-site: <http://www.cgiar.org/irri/irc2002/index.htm>.
XI Annual Meeting of the Spanish
Phytopathological Society in Almerimar, El
Ejido, Almeria, Spain.
14-18 October 2002.
Contact: Isabel Cuadrado <fiapa@fiapa.es>,
Chairman of the Organization Committee, La Cañada de San Urbano, Almeria,
Spain. See <http://www.ual.es/personal/egallego/congresef>.
Annual Meeting of
North American Plant Protection Organisation (NAPPO) in Oaxaca,
Mexico.
21-25 October 2002.
Contact Dr Gustavo Frias; e-mail: <gfrias@sagarpa.gob.mx>;
or Alba Campos, NAPPO Executive Assistant, Observatory Cr., Bldg. No. 3,
Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6 Canada; Fax: +1-613-759-6141;
e-mail: <camposa@inspection.gc.ca>.
See <www.nappo.org>.
3rd Asia-Pacific International
Mycological Conference on Biodiversity and Biotechnology (AMC 2002) in
Kunming, China.
4-8 November 2002.
Contact: <amc2002@china.com>.
1st Australian Medicago truncatula
Workshop on Rottnest Island, Perth,
Western Australia.
10-13 November 2002.
Contact: Dr Geoff Dwyer, Workshop Organiser, SABC, Murdoch University,
Perth, 6150 Western Australia; Fax: +61-8-9360-7405; e-mail: <G.Dwyer@murdoch.edu.au>.
See the website: <http://wwwcbbc.murdoch.edu.au/AMtW>.
Entomological Society of America
symposium and student debate "Biosafety and Bioterrorism:
Assessing the Threat to Agriculture from Biological Agents" in Fort
Lauderdale, USA.
17-20 November 2002.
See <http://www.entsoc.org>.
British Crop Protection Conference -
Pests and Diseases 2002 in Brighton, UK.
18-21 November 2002.
Contact: BCPC Conference Secretariat, 5 Maidstone Building Mews, Bankside,
London SE1 1GN, UK; Fax: +44-20-7940-5577; e-mail: <conference@bcpc.org>.
See: <www.bcpc.org>.
41st Congress of the Southern African
Society for Plant Pathology in Bloemfontein,
South Africa.
19-22 January 2003.
Contact: Organising Committee, University of the Free State, P O Box 339
(102), Bloemfontein 9300, RSA; Fax: +27-51-430-5692; e-mail: <geldens@sci.uovs.ac.za>.
Ninth International Fusarium
Workshop in Sydney, Australia.
27-30 January 2003.
Contact: Dr Brett Summerell, Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Rd,
Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia; Fax: +61-2-9241-1135; e-mail: <Brett.Summerell@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au>.
Plant Virus Interaction Symposium
in Christchurch, New Zealand.
1 February 2003.
Contact: as below for ICPP 2003.
8th International Congress of Plant
Pathology (ICPP2003) "Solving
problems in the real world" in Christchurch, New Zealand.
2-7 February 2003.
Contact: Helen Shrewsbury, Professional Development Group, PO Box 84,
Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand; Fax: +64-3-325-3840; e-mail:
<shrewsbh@lincoln.ac.nz>.
See <http://www.lincoln.ac.nz/icpp2003>.
6th International Symposium on
Chemical and non-Chemical Soil and Substrate Disinfection in
Jerusalem, Israel.
2003.
Contact: Professor J Katan, Department of Plant Pathology, University of
Minnesota, USA; Fax: +1-972-8946-6794; e-mail: <gamliel@agri.huji.ac.il>.
Third International Conference on the
Comparative Biology of the Monocotyledons and Fourth International Symposium
on Grass Systematics and Evolution in Claremont,
California, USA.
30 March–5 April 2003.
Visit <www.monocots3.org> for
conference details or write to Monocots III, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic
Garden, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, California 91711-3157, U.S.A.;
e-mail <info@monocots3.org>;
Fax: +1-909-626-7670.
The XIIth Latin American
Phytopathological Congress (XII Congreso Latinoamericano de Fitopatología)
in Valle del Rio Grande, Texas, USA
6-10 April 2003.
To be held jointly with the Caribbean and Southern Divisions of the American
Phytopathological Society at the Radison Hotel, Isla del Padre, Valle del
Rio Grande, Texas, USA. Contact <j-amador@tamu.edu>
or <e.french@cgiar.org>.
XI International Symposium on
Biological Control of Weeds in Canberra,
Australia.
27 April-2 May 2003.
See <http://www.ento.csiro.au/weeds2003/index.html>
or contact Sharon Corey, CSIRO Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra ACT 2601,
Australia; Fax: +61-02-6246-4177; e-mail: <Sharon.Corey@csiro.au>.
American Phytopathological Society
Annual Meeting in Charlotte, North
Carolina, USA.
9-13 August 2003.
See <http://www.apsnet.org>.
14th Meeting of the International
Council for the study of Virus and Virus-like Diseases of the Grapevine (ICVG)
in Locorotondo (Bari), Italy.
12–17 September 2003.
Contact: Donato Boscia <csvvdb08@area.ba.cnr.it>.
See: <http://www.agr.uniba.it/ICVG2003>.
Eighth Arab Congress of Plant
Protection in El-Beida, Libya.
12-16 October 2003
Contact: Dr Ali Bataw, <alibataw@hotmail.com>,
Secretary of the Organizing Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, Omar El-Mokhtar
University, El-Beida, Libya or Dr Bassam Bayaa, <B.Bayaa@cgiar.org>,
President of the Arab Society of Plant Protection ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466,
Aleppo, Syria.
11th International Cereal Rust and
Powdery Mildew Conference in Norwich, UK.
23-27 August 2004.
Contact: Dr James Brown, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK; Fax:
+44-1603-450045; e-mail: <james.brown@bbsrc.ac.uk>.
5th International Postharvest Research
Symposium in Verona, Italy.
2004.
Contact: Professor Pietro Tonutti, University of Padova, Italy; Fax:
+39-04982-72850; e-mail: <ptonutti@agripolis.unipd.it>.
The XIIIth Latin American
Phytopathological Congress (XIII Congreso Latinoamericano de Fitopatología)
in the city of Cordoba, Cordoba Province, Argentina.
Mid-2005.
Organized by the Latin American Phytopathological Association (ALF) jointly
with the annual meeting of the Argentine Phytopathological Association (Asociación
Argentina de Fitopatología, AAF).
Contact: Dr Sergio L Lenardon, Institute for Phytopathology and Plant
Physiology (IFFIVE), INTA, Cordoba, Argentina; <slenard@infovia.com.ar>.
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