Estamos em contagem decrescente para a Feira Nacional de Agricultura (FNA), uma das maiores feiras agrícolas do país!
É já de 7 a 15 de junho que o InPP vai estar na 61ª edição da Feira Nacional de Agricultura, que se realiza no CNEMA – Centro Nacional de Exposições, em Santarém.
O tema da edição deste ano é “Biosoluções”e pretende destacar a importância das soluções e tecnologias inovadoras no setor agroalimentar e na promoção de práticas mais sustentáveis e eficientes.
A FNA reúne agricultores, empresários e especialistas dos setores agroalimentar, pecuário e agrícola e é um excelente espaço para aumentar a nossa rede de contactos, trocar conhecimentos e apresentar as mais recentes tendências e soluções agrícolas que a nossa equipa tem desenvolvido.
Vai poder encontrar-nos no stand nº.18, à entrada do Espaço dos claustros, dedicado à Agenda InsectERA, entre as 10h e as 20h.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in the National Olive Growing Fair (FNO 25) in Campo Maior, from May 23 to 25, presenting its latest biological and digital innovations for crop protection, including projects focused on biopesticides for olive diseases and early detection of fungi that cause gafa, and monitoring insect vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which attacks olive groves. The Elvas CoLAB was present with its own stand to demonstrate its strengths and the impact of its research on agricultural sustainability, inviting producers, technicians and researchers to learn about its innovative bio-based and digital solutions and to actively participate in the discussion of the sector's challenges.
The collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) welcomed visitors at the stand no. 14, located at thematic area at the Campo Maior Municipal Garden, to showcase their activity, the ongoing projects that are developing solutions to the main olive diseases, the patents already submitted, the apps for agricultural management and the bio-based and digital products and services they have to offer the agricultural sector and the market. Throughout the three days of the fair, some of InPP's researchers were at the stand to demonstrate to visitors the various features of the Elvas CoLAB, which has been developing innovation that it hopes will contribute to the sustainability of agricultural systems.
InPP announced ValorCannBio project, which is processing biomass that is not used in the medical cannabis industry to develop effective and sustainable biopesticides against gafa and tuberculosis, The project will be carried out in the municipality of Elvas, which is responsible for decimating entire harvests, leading to severe economic losses and compromising food quality. The impact of this project will be felt in the municipality of Elvas, where the project is being developed, but it is expected that it will extend to the entire olive-growing region from Trás-os-Montes to the Algarve, where production losses are increasing due to these diseases. O AlViGen project was also one of the protagonists and is using cutting-edge technology to detecting and identifying the strains of fungi that cause gafa, long before the symptoms become visible. The project team has used traps to collect spores that circulate in the air to monitor the presence of fungi, which can give farmers an important advantage in preventing infections and protecting their crops, reducing production losses.
O SNM_XylellaVt project, The SNM_XylellaVt project, led by DRAPCENTRO and in which InPP actively participates, was also highlighted at FNO. SNM_XylellaVt is monitor the insect vectors of the bacteria Xyllela fastidiosa, in particular the foam leafhopper, the insect responsible for transmitting the bacterium, which attacks various agricultural and forestry crops, and in particular olive groves. The project team is developing new tools, such as risk prediction models which, in the presence of the bacterium, whether in plants or insect vectors, will allow the National Agricultural Warning Service (SNAA) to alert, in real time, about the economic attack levels (EAL) for these insects, thus allowing prevent infection of the main crops. As part of this project, the team has also developed an online platform where citizens can report the sighting of foams, which are signs of the presence of the insect vectors of X. fastidiosa, This will help to map its temporal and spatial distribution and to plan measures to combat this bacterium.
The FNO, organized jointly by the Campo Maior City Council and the Centre for the Study and Promotion of Olive Oil in the Alentejo (CEPAAL), is an event that aims to enhance national olive growing, and in particular Portuguese olive oil, boosting the local economy and bringing together professionals from the sector - producers, technicians, or researchers - from all over the country to discuss challenges and trends in the Portuguese olive and olive oil sector.
Each year, crop diseases cause devastating losses in agricultural production, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. In the heart of Alentejo, an innovative project is harnessing the power of genomics to help combat these invisible threats. The AlViGen Project, with the participation of InnovPlantProtect researchers Rute Rego and João Bilro, is paving the way for a new era of crop surveillance and protection.
The Problem and the Solution
“Yellow rust in wheat and olive quick decline syndrome are real scourges for farmers,” explains Rute Rego, a researcher at AlViGen. “These diseases can decimate entire harvests, leading to severe economic losses and compromising food quality.”
But AlViGen is not limited to observing the problem. The team is using cutting-edge technology to detect and identify the strains of fungi that cause these diseases, long before the symptoms become visible.
“We use traps to collect spores circulating in the air,” Rute continues. “These traps allow us to monitor the presence of fungi in real-time, which gives us an important advantage in preventing infections.”
But the magic happens in the laboratory, where the team extracts the DNA from the spores and performs advanced genomic analyses, using powerful DNA sequencing technology based on the metabarcoding method, carried out with cutting-edge technology like the portable Nanopore sequencer.
Rute Rego, a researcher at InnovPlantProtect, analyzes samples of the fungus causing olive quick decline syndrome as part of the AlViGen project.
Unraveling the Genetic Code of Fungi
To better explain what metabarcoding is and its advantage in detecting the presence of species or strains of fungi that cause diseases in crops, the researcher gives the example of a bag full of different types of grains - rice, beans, corn - being analyzed by the reader. “Metabarcoding is like placing a unique label (a ‘barcode’) on each type of grain. Then, you can mix all the grains in a single sample, and by reading the labels, you can identify the quantity of each type of grain present.'”
In the case of AlViGen, this technique allows for the analysis of multiple fungal species simultaneously (in multiple samples), each with its own genetic ‘barcode,’ and to ‘identify exactly which fungi are present, even in small quantities,'” the researcher explains.
And what is the practical impact of this method for monitoring and predicting disease? The AlViGen project researcher can identify, with high precision, the moment when the pathogenic agent begins to appear in the field, which makes it possible to alert farmers in real-time about the risk of disease. Producers can adopt preventative measures and apply the necessary products to avoid infection, contributing to a rapid and effective response in disease prevention.
The Timeline of Fungal Evolution
AlViGen's research is not limited to identifying the microorganisms harmful to crops; it also seeks to understand their evolution and diversity. João Bilro, another researcher on the project, is dedicated to studying the phylogeny of the Colletotrichum fungus, a microorganism responsible for causing olive anthracnose or blight, a disease that affects olive groves in Portugal. This disease mainly affects the olives, which compromises the quality of the olive oil.
“Phylogeny is crucial for understanding how the different strains of Colletotrichum Just as a family tree traces the history of a family, showing how members are related to each other, phylogenetic trees reveal the evolutionary relationships between the different strains of this fungus. Each branch of the tree represents an evolutionary lineage, and the nodes indicate common ancestors. By comparing the DNA sequences of these strains, we can reconstruct their evolutionary history, identifying which are genetically closer or more distant, and thus infer characteristics such as virulence or resistance to fungicides,” he reveals.
This knowledge allows researchers to identify patterns of dissemination and adaptation of the fungus, which is fundamental for developing more effective strategies to contain and/or reduce the damage this fungus causes to Portuguese olive groves.
“One of the challenges of our research is the great genetic diversity of the Colletotrichum,” admits João. “However, by uncovering their evolutionary secrets, we are paving the way for the development of more precise and targeted detection and control methods.”
Left photo: João Bilro, a bioinformatician at InnovPlantProtect, studying the phylogeny of the Colletotrichum fungus within the scope of the AlViGen project; Right photo: Rute Rego and João Bilro discuss ideas about the AlViGen project.
The Future of Agriculture Starts Here
The AlViGen Project aims to have a significant impact on the agricultural landscape, especially in Alentejo, a region with a strong agricultural tradition. By providing farmers with early detection tools and precise information about the microorganisms that cause crop diseases, the project intends to aid in decision-making, allowing farmers to protect their crops and reduce production losses.
“Our ultimate goal is to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their crops sustainably,” states Rute. “We believe that genomic surveillance is a key tool for the future of crop protection.”
João Bilro agrees and adds, “Continuous research is fundamental to keep up with the evolution of harmful microorganisms and to develop new, consistently effective control strategies. In the future, we hope to expand the scope of AlViGen to include other microorganisms and crops, and to make genomic surveillance an accessible tool for all farmers.”
Science at the Service of Agriculture
The AlViGen Project, supported by the Promove Program of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with Banco BPI and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), is an inspiring example of how science and technology can be applied to solve real-world problems and transform agriculture. By unraveling the genetic secrets of crop microorganisms, Rute Rego and João Bilro are paving the way for a safer, more sustainable, and resilient agriculture.
The fight against crop diseases continues, but with AlViGen, farmers can finally see the enemy before it becomes visible.
Latest information from the Stenphyliosis Working Group released by INIAV. Controlling the maturation of the future spores of the fungus that causes the disease is crucial to stamping it out.
Monitoring the development of the spores of the fungus that causes stenphylliosis, also known as brown spot disease of the pear tree, indicates that the time has come to remove the leaves from under the tree canopy, recommends the Stenphylliosis Working Group.
The maturity index (MI) of the pseudothecae - structures where the endogenous spores (ascospores) form during the winter - increased by 0.9 in the Alcobaça orchard, 0.8 in the Maiorga orchard, 0.5 in the Picanceira orchard and 0.4 in the Sobrena orchard, between January 25 and February 8, 2021. Compared to the same period last year, the IM in these orchards in Western Portugal is 0.4 lower in Sobrena, 0.2 lower in Picanceira and Alcobaça, and 0.1 higher in Maiorga.
The data can be found in 2nd Information from the Stenphilosis Working Group (Stenphilosis WG), coordinated by INIAV, in which it is considered important to “remove/destroy the leaves under the canopy before the pseudothecae mature and the ascospores are released (IM=7), so that the primary inoculum of stenphyliosis is minimal and, as a result, the incidence of the disease is reduced”.
Those responsible for the Stenphyliosis WG point out that, at this time, the ascospores won't necessarily infect the pear trees, “but they will infect the vegetation in the soil and, possibly, the organic matter on the surface of the soil” - where the inoculum will be produced during the spring.
On February 8, the orchard with the highest IM was Maiorga (IM=4.7, n=103), followed by Alcobaça (IM=4.2, n=90), Picanceira (IM=4.1,0 n=94) and Sobrena (IM=3.9, n=102). The IM of the Maiorga orchard, very close to stage 5, means that there are ascospores in formation and mature ones.
A stenphylosis, caused by the fungus Stemphylium versicarium, is a disease that affects the production and quality of the rock pear, and for which there are still no phytopharmaceuticals capable of effectively neutralizing it.
How are we going to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50%? This was one of the questions discussed in the online debate on the Farm to Fork strategy organized today by Syngenta, which presented its Good Growth Plan 2.0, a plan of commitments for sustainable agriculture by 2025.
Two billion dollars is how much Syngenta is going to invest in sustainable agriculture under its new commitment plan until 2025, the Good Growth Plan 2.0. The company will also make two technologies available per year and develop specific commitments for Portugal and Spain, Felisbela Torres de Campos said today. The Head of Regulatory & Business Sustainability Portugal was speaking at a online debate promoted on 25/2/2021 by Syngenta, an associate of InnovPlantProtect (InPP), where the new Good Growth Plan of the company was presented and the European Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy was discussed.
Felisbela Campos explained to the InPP blog that the two technologies “can be used in various areas, such as new molecules, biopesticides, apps monitoring, digital tools, etc.” With regard to the specifics of Portugal and Spain, the company is “still developing local commitments, but the areas in which we already have concrete projects underway are biodiversity, soil conservation, carbon neutrality, and the safe and sustainable use of plant protection products”.
The head of Syngenta also stressed that the main objectives until 2025 are to accelerate innovation for agriculture and nature, working towards carbon-neutral agriculture. And that in the period relating to the first Good Growth Plan, between 2013 and 2020, there was an increase of 20% in crop productivity in Portugal and Spain.
In the debate, the various speakers said “yes” to F2F, which aims, among other things, to reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 50%, something that, in the words of José Diogo Albuquerque, CEO of the Agroportal, This worries farmers because of the risk of an increase in pests and a reduction in production.
Nuno Canada, president of INIAV, also a partner at InPP, recalled that the F2F “has tools to better manage the transition and adaptation” needed and that knowledge, innovation and science “make it possible to overcome” the challenges that lie ahead. He also argued that the European Commission “has created a set of financial instruments for this area, more robust than in the past, to innovate in agriculture and food” - instruments that the sector must be able to use.
The president of INIAV recalled that of the 26 collaborative laboratories that have been set up in Portugal, six are in the agri-food sector, which he considered to be very significant and exemplary of the improvements that have taken place in the national agricultural education and research ecosystem, as well as the “very significant journey” that has been made towards bringing the entities that produce knowledge closer to those that use and apply it.
For the director general of Office of Planning, Policy and General Administration, According to Eduardo Diniz, “the main debate is not about the objectives of the Green Deal [the European Green Deal that the F2F is part of], it's about being aware that they require the introduction of innovation and technology, which requires investment and income in the sector.”.
As for the use of biopesticides, Eduardo Diniz believes that there is still a long way to go, from the point of view of research and regulation, and that they will always be a complementary strategy in the fight against pests and diseases, not a total alternative. For his part, Nuno Canada mentioned the case of InPP, based at the INIAV center in Elvas, which aims precisely to develop biopesticides for crop protection and the post-harvest phase.
Gene in common wheat that promotes the fungal diseases yellow rust and black rust identified.
A team of researchers from John Innes Centre identified a common wheat gene (Triticum aestivum), which acts as a promoter of yellow rust and black rust, fungal infections that attack this breadmaking cereal worldwide, in a very destructive way and with great economic impact.
Disrupting the function of this gene makes wheat more resistant to these diseases, according to a published news on the website of that international center of excellence in Plant Science.
In a study published in The Plant Cell, The scientists conclude that the gene, called TaBCAT1, is activated (becomes expressed) at an early stage of yellow rust infection - caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici. When these fungi attack, they activate (induce) and deactivate specific genes to prevent the wheat from defending itself. If successful, the plant is unable to eliminate the invader and ends up getting sick.
Eliminating this gene in mutant plants drastically reduced infection. “We were amazed to see that removing just this one gene in our mutant plants makes them alert their defense responses even before they are attacked,” says Pilar Corredor-Moreno, first author of the study.
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