11th Meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology

Saku (Estonia), 2025-02-04/06

 

 

The meeting of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology was held in Saku, Estonia, at the kind invitation of the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK). This Panel serves as EPPO’s technical body responsible for preparing and reviewing new and revised diagnostic Standards for viruses, viroids, and phytoplasmas. A total of 21 Panel members, five observers, and three representatives from the EPPO Secretariat attended the meeting, which was chaired by EPPO Director-General Ms Tikka with the support of two scientific officers, Mr Giovani and Mr Aoutil.

 

 

 

Revised EPPO Diagnostic Standards reviewed during the meeting

The Panel reviewed 5 revised Diagnostic Standards.

  • PM 7/113 Pepino mosaic virus

A revised version of the Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from JKI (DE), CREA (IT), NIB (SI), Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (CZ), Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service (PL), and State Plant Protection Service (LV). This Diagnostic Standard was sent for the first stage of country consultation in 2024 and the Panel reviewed the changes proposed by the drafting team to respond to the comments. The main points of discussion include the harmonization of standard text with Standards on other RNA viruses. An updated version of the Diagnostic Standard that takes into account the discussion of the Panel will be prepared and sent for final approval to the EPPO Member Countries. If no formal objection is received, the Diagnostic Protocol will be considered as approved.

 

The other four Diagnostic Standards revisions were reviewed for the first time by the Panel. New versions that take into account the discussion of the Panel will be prepared by the drafting teams and the EPPO Secretariat and will be reviewed by the Panel before they are sent for country consultation.

  • PM 7/067 Tomato mottle mosaic virus

A revised version of the Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from NIB (SI), CREA (IT), Fera (GB). The main parts of the Standard that were revised included the flow diagram and the test sample requirements.

  • PM 7/133 Generic detection and identification of phytoplasmas

A revised version of the Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from NIB (SI), ANSES (FR), JKI (DE), CREA (IT), CRA-W (BE), METK (EE), and ILVO (BE). The Panel discussed the challenges in obtaining the complete 16S DNA sequence and explored possible alternatives. The Panel discussed also the optimized DNA extraction method within this Standard.

  • PM 7/079 Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma

A revised version of the Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from ANSES (FR), INRAE (FR), NIB (SI), JKI (DE), Agroscope (CH), and CREA (IT). The Panel discussed the optimized DNA extraction and the genotyping tests that have been added.

  • PM 7/139 Tospoviruses

A revised version of the Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from NIB (SI), NIVIP (NL), ILVO (BE), and VNIIKR (RU). The Panel discussed the removal of bioassays from the appendices and the deletion of the list of non-recommended tests.

 

The progress made on the following protocol was also discussed:

  • PM 7/132 Andean potato latent virus and Andean potato mild mosaic virus

The results of the related Euphresco project are currently being collected, and the revision of the Diagnostic Standard will begin afterward.

 

 

New EPPO Diagnostic Protocols reviewed during the meeting

  • Rose rosette virus

The Diagnostic Standard was prepared by a drafting team composed of experts from Fera (GB), UKZUZ (CZ), NIVIP (NL), and METK (EE). This Diagnostic Standard was sent for the first stage of country consultation in 2024 and the Panel reviewed the changes proposed by the drafting team in response to the comments. The Panel mainly discussed the inclusion of non-recommended tests within the Standard. An updated version of the diagnostic protocol that takes into account the discussion of the Panel will be prepared and sent for the final approval stage to the EPPO Member Countries. If no formal objection is received, the Diagnostic Protocol will considered as approved.

 

The Panel also discussed some generic Diagnostic Standards that are in early stage of development, these are on:

  • Nepoviruses
  • Carlaviruses
  • Ilaviruses

 

 

Other topics

EPPO Databases on diagnostics

The Panel received an update on the EPPO Database on Diagnostic Expertise and on EPPO-Q-bank.

 

Euphresco

The Euphresco research project on virology ‘Surveillance for virus and other non-culturable pathogens in forestry tree species’ was presented by Ms Ward.

 

Technical visit

The participants of the Panel were given a technical visit, consisting of a tour of the plant health laboratories at the Centre (METK).

 

 

Next Panel meeting

The next meeting of the Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology will be held in October 2026, with the location to be confirmed later.

 

Participants

The composition of the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Virology and Phytoplasmology can be found on the EPPO website.