Virus prevention and control
Several viruses are threatening the cultivation of bulbs and perennials. And once growers have a virus in their crop they want to get rid if it as soon as possible. Applied Plant Research (PPO) detects the viruses, finds out their origin, and works out how growers can prevent or control virus infestations.
Viruses are causing diseases that are almost intangible. In case of unknown viruses the question always is how they got into the plants or bulbs. And often their dissemination is obscure. Are insects transmitting the virus? Are they spreading in the soil? Or are they spreading via lesions?
Diagnostic tests to detect viruses
The scientists of PPO are working on all these aspects. They often start with the development of tests that show whether a virus is present in the bulbs or plants. The scientists are checking whether the tests are properly functioning in practice before passing them on to the inspection service such as Naktuinbouw (Netherlands Inspection Services for Horticulture) or the Bloembollenkeuringsdienst (Flower Bulb Inspection Service).
The most important step is that the scientists are learning to understand how viruses are disseminating during cultivation and processing of flower bulbs and perennial plants. Some viruses thrive well on weeds, others are transmitted by aphids or mites, and yet others survive in the soil. This insight enables the scientists to test measures to reduce or even prevent dissemination.
Whole range of measures
For tulip virus X (TVX) this operating procedure has, e.g., led to a whole range of measures to be observed by growers, forcers and exporters. These cover aspects such as the best moment for growers to remove the flowers, cleaning of machinery, direct removal of infested bulbs from storage, and spraying against tulip bulb mite (Aceria tulipae).
In their work the scientists are cooperating closely with the Inspection Services, crop advisors and growers.