Risks of the new Dickeya clade

Goal

Since 2005 a new, aggressive Dickeya clade have been found in potato. This group, that is also found on hyacinth, is called D. solani. Information is lacking on the risks of these newly identified genetic groups for the Dutch agriculture and horticulture. To develop effective measures (critical control points), to avoid further dissemination and for risk assessment, generation of new knowledge is required. 

Results

The Dutch contribution in the Euphresco project will result in:

• a panel of GFP marked Dickeya strains,

• knowledge on the virulence of strains and host specificity of strains.

Results will be communicated via: presentations for farmer groups, a publication in a scientific and a technical journal. Additional knowledge on the ecology and molecular biology of new Dickeya species will be gained via the contribution of the other partners in the  Euphresco consortium.
The project will generate knowledge on the risks of a group of soft rot pathogens for economically important arable and horticultural crops.

Timeline approach

Isolates of the new groups will be characterized by Multi Locus Sequence Analysis (dnaX, recA, gapA and mdh). Sequences will be compared with the six described Dickeya species. Representative isolates will be marked with GFP and used to determine host specificity in potato, onion, maize, sugar beet and carrot.
In producing the tests and in providing plant material co-operation will take place with HZPC Holland b.v.
Futhermore the research will be done within Euphresco. It is not yet clear which EU countries will participate. Ideally, there will be a more specific distribution of duties between participating countries.

Publications