Comparative Performance Evaluation of Double-Stranded RNA High-Throughput Sequencing for the Detection of Viral Infection in Temperate Fruit Crops.

There is limited information on the compared performances of biological, serological. and molecular assays with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) for viral indexing in temperate fruit crops. Here, using a range of samples of predetermined virological status, we compared two performance criteria (inclusivity and analytical sensitivity) of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), molecular hybridization, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) HTS for the detection of a total of 14 viruses (10 genera) and four viroids (three genera).

A simulation study of synergies and tradeoffs between multiple ecosystem services in apple orchards.

In this study, we analyzed the patterns of relationships between multiple ecosystem services in apple orchards by considering the cascade that links agricultural practices to ecosystem functions and then to ecosystem services. Five major ecosystem services were considered: fruit production, soil nitrogen availability, climate regulation, water cycle maintenance and regulation, including water quality, and pest and disease control. We derived indicators of ecosystem functions and of ecosystem services from model simulations of orchards driven by virtual cropping systems combining various modalities of nitrogen fertilization, irrigation, and pest control.

Combined Metabarcoding and Multi-locus approach for Genetic characterization of Colletotrichum species associated with common walnut (Juglans regia) anthracnose in France.

Juglans regia (walnut) is a species belonging to the family Juglandaceae. Broadly spread in diverse temperate and subtropical regions, walnut is primarily cultivated for its nuts. In France, Colletotrichum sp.

Identifying obstacles and ranking common biological control research priorities for Europe to manage most economically important pests in arable, vegetable and perennial crops.

EU agriculture is currently in transition from conventional crop protection to integrated pest management (IPM). Because biocontrol is a key component of IPM, many European countries recently have intensified their national efforts on biocontrol research and innovation (R&I), although such initiatives are often fragmented. The operational outputs of national efforts would benefit from closer collaboration among stakeholders via transnationally coordinated approaches, as most economically important pests are similar across Europe.

Erosion of quantitative host resistance in the apple×Venturia inaequalis pathosystem.

Theoretical approaches predict that host quantitative resistance selects for pathogens with a high level of pathogenicity, leading to erosion of the resistance. This process of erosion has, however, rarely been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate the erosion of apple quantitative resistance to scab disease, we surveyed scab incidence over time in a network of three orchards planted with susceptible and quantitatively resistant apple genotypes.

First Report on the Natural Occurrence of Cherry virus A in Mirabelle Plum (Prunus domestica var. insititia).

Cherry virus A (CVA) is a member of the Capillovirus genus (2). It was discovered serendipitously during cloning of the little cherry agent (2) and has since been shown to be relatively widespread in sweet and sour cherry (Prunus cerasus and P. avium) (2,3).

Molecular characterization of foveaviruses associated with the cherry necrotic mottle leaf disease and complete sequencing of an European isolate of Cherry green ring mottle virus.

Analysis of the P1C124 source (associated with the cherry necrotic mottle leaf (CNML) disease) revealed the presence of two different viral agents. The complete nucleotide sequence of one of these agents, P1A, had an overall nucleotide sequence similarity of 83% with a previously sequenced North American isolate of Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) and should therefore be regarded as an European isolate of CGRMV. Approximately 2 kb of the 5' end of the genome of the second agent, P1B, were also sequenced and were shown to be 82% homologous with Cherry necrotic rusty mottle virus (CNRMV), another member of the Foveavirus genus.

Characterization of two different apricot latent virus variants associated with peach asteroid spot and peach sooty ringspot diseases.

Peach asteroid spot (PAS) and peach sooty ringspot (PSRS) are two diseases of stone fruit trees of unknown aetiology. The use of a cRNA probe of the newly described Apricot latent virus (ApLV), a tentative member of the Foveavirus genus, indicated the presence of cross-hybridizing agents in PAS isolate LA2 and in PSRS isolates Caserta 12 and Clava J4. Analysis of dsRNA patterns revealed in each case the presence of a major dsRNA band of about 9.