10^th Meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology

Paris, 2023-11-28/30

Revised EPPO Diagnostic Protocols

The Panel reviewed 2 revised Diagnostic Protocols.

PM 7/113 Pepino mosaic virus

The Panel reviewed and discussed the draft Diagnostic Protocol. The Diagnostic Protocol was revised to include new diagnostic tests and to update the procedures for the preparation of samples, following the protocol PM 7/146 (2) Tomato brown rugose fruit virus.

PM7/125 ELISA tests for viruses

The Panel reviewed and discussed the draft Standard. The main points of discussion were the addition of seeds in the scope of the diagnostic protocol and the determination of the threshold value for the interpretation of test results.

New versions of the diagnostic protocols that take into account the discussion of the Panel will be prepared and sent for country consultation.

New EPPO Diagnostic Protocols

The Panel reviewed 2 new Diagnostic Protocols and the Glossary for Virology.

PM7/NEW Rose rosette virus

The Panel reviewed and discussed the draft Diagnostic Protocol on rose rosette virus which included several recently developed conventional RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR tests. A revised Diagnostic Protocol that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared and sent for country consultation.

PM7/NEW HTS in Virology

The Panel reviewed and discussed the draft Standard. They discussed the scope and the objectives of the Diagnostic protocol and decided that it should focus on providing examples of HTS tests for the detection and identification of molecularly characterized viruses. It was suggested not to publish it as a standalone Diagnostic Protocol but to include it as an annex in PM 7/151 Considerations for the use of high throughput sequencing in plant health diagnostics. A new version of the document that takes into account the discussion of the Panel will be prepared. The document will be presented to the Panel on Diagnostics and Quality Assurance.

Glossary for Virology

The document will provide a common set of words (and their definitions) to be used by the experts of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology. The Glossary for Virology will not be a Standard, but a working document available to the Panel members. The Panel reviewed the terms identified by the Drafting Team. Several definitions were amended, some terms were removed and some were added. A revised glossary that takes into account the discussions of the Panel will be prepared and shared with the Panel for approval.

Plans for future new diagnostic protocols

Proposals were made to develop new Diagnostic Protocols for the following pest groups:

Nepoviruses
Ilarviruses
Carlaviruses, as genus of viruses that infect potatoes

Plans for the future

Update on ongoing work on phytoplasmas

Presentations were made on research activities that focus on phytoplasmas, in particular work undertaken on the development of diagnostic tests for the generic detection of phytoplasmas. In light of the presentations made, the Panel agreed that the EPPO Diagnostic Protocol PM 7/133 Generic detection of phytoplasmas should be revised.

Update on ongoing work on Flavescence dorée sensu stricto

The results of the Euphresco project 2020-A-344 Flado-Vigilant were presented. The Panel agreed that the EPPO Diagnostic Protocol PM 7/079 Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma should be revised to include the tests validated in the framework of the Euphresco project.

Update on ongoing work on Orthotospoviruses

The outcomes of the proficiency test organised by the EU Reference Laboratory on viruses, viroids and phytoplasmas, on chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus were presented. The Panel agreed that the EPPO Diagnostic Protocol PM 7/139 Orthotospoviruses should be revised.