Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEThe United Nations designated 12 May the International Day of Plant Health to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.
To feed the world by 2050, we need a 50 percent increase in agricultural production. Protecting agricultural crops from pest outbreaks is paramount. As each year, we lose up to 40 percent of crops, worth 200 billion euros, to plant pests and diseases.
International Day of Plant Health
Our research and development in plant health - some examples
Plant self defense
Structural phloem proteins
The Phloem plays a crucial role in transporting the products of photosynthesis throughout the plant. However, it faces threats from injuries, pests, parasites, and pathogens. To counter these threats, plants have evolved efficient defense mechanisms, including structural phloem proteins (P-proteins). These proteins help in sealing damaged sieve elements and protecting the plant from pathogens. Understanding the role of P-proteins in plant defense, will enable phloem engineering as a new strategy for developing crop varieties that are resistant to pests, pathogens, and parasites. Noll et al. 2022
Immunity cell-surface receptors
Plants recognize hostile microbes by detecting molecular patterns within pathogen virulence effectors. The immunity cell-surface receptors Ve1 and Ve2 protect plants against fungi of the genus Verticillium, which cause early blight, a worldwide disease affecting many crops. Transgenic plants expressing Ve1 and Ve2 together reduced pathogen titres by a further 90% compared to plants expressing either Ve1 or Ve2 alone. Bioassays show that the Ve1Ve2 complex activates race-specific enhanced immunity to the pathogen through a rapid burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest a mechanism by which the composition of a cell surface receptor heterocomplex can be optimized to enhance immunity to devastating plant diseases.
Natural rubber reduces herbivory
Taraxacum koksaghyz is an emerging alternative rubber crop grown in Europe, where it could be attacked by the herbivorous soil-dwelling May cockchafer larvae. A recent study investigated the effects of cis-1,4-polyisoprene, a major component of natural rubber, on plant resistance against herbivory and root microbiome. The results showed that plants with reduced rubber content suffered greater biomass loss in the presence of herbivores than plants with normal rubber content. When May cockchafer larvae were fed a diet with varying levels of rubber in the latex, the herbivores showed a preference for feeding on the diet supplemented with rubber-depleted latex. In addition, adding purified cis-1,4-polyisoprene to the diet deterred larval feeding and reduced their weight gain.
Strengthening of pathogen resistance
Pests cause significant losses in potato harvests worldwide, which is why the BMEL-funded ADLATUS project aims to improve the potato's resistance to important pathogens. With the help of new host factors and existing defense mechanisms, the resistance of potatoes to viruses and nematodes in particular is to be strengthened and yields secured in the future. The focus is on important quarantine and non-quarantine pathogens such as root gall nematodes (Meloidogyne chitwoodi), potato virus Y, potato leafroll virus and tobacco rattle virus.
Pathogen detection
Pathogen detection by isothermal amplification
Potato plants are susceptible to a number of economically important viruses that can affect tuber quality and reduce yields by up to 50 percent. One of the biggest threats is viral iron spot: A tuber necrosis caused by the tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and transmitted by nematodes.
The BMEL funded TRV2GO project has therefore developed a simple, stable and sensitive detection method that can be carried out without special equipment, making it suitable for practical use. The diagnostic method is based on isothermal amplification of viral gene segments combined with specific detection of the amplification products using a lateral flow dipstick.
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Magnetic immunodetection
The project "Nanoprobe-based screening method for plant pathogen detection" (NanoSPoD) focuses on the quarantine pathogen tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), which leads to major crop losses in tomato and bell pepper plants. In order to limit its spread, a rapid mobile test system is to be developed for inspection authorities such as the chambers of agriculture. In our detection method, viruses are specifically labeled using antibody-coupled magnetic nanoprobes and the amount of virus is determined using a mobile handheld measuring device via the magnetic measurement signal. After a short sample preparation, on-site analyses can be performed within a few minutes, which represents a major time advantage over laboratory diagnostics.
Pest control
Pests and vector insect control
Insect pests are responsible for up to 30 % of the worlds` total crop loss, with an estimated economic damage exceeding €500 billion annually. This threat is expected to increase with climatic changes, increased travel activities and globalized trade as key factors promoting the dispersal of invasive pests.
Plant protection is an arms race since insect pests are becoming rapidly resistant against insecticides. In addition, continued regulatory restriction of available compounds on the market, is diminishing grower options to prevent crop damage caused by insects. The mission of the department "pests and vector insect control" is to develop new and environmentally friendly strategies for plant protection.
Taming the Devil‘s ringlet – investigation of the flowering time control of Cuscuta spp.
Devil's ringlets, also known as Cuscuta, are annual holoparasites that survive by sucking water and nutrients from their host plants. When they infest crops, they often cause high yield losses. The plants also produce large quantities of seeds that can survive in the soil for several years, making them a double threat to global agriculture.
Understanding the flowering induction of the parasite may be a key to its control.