EU-COST ACTION CA16107 - EUROXANTH: INTEGRATING SCIENCE ON XANTHOMONADACEAE FOR INTEGRATED PLANT DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN EUROPE.

Bacteria of the family Xanthomonadaceae, including species of Xanthomonas and Xylella fastidiosa, are devastating plant pathogens. Many are quarantine organisms in the EU and their study is of uttermost importance. These pathogens infect all kinds of crop plants. The COST Action CA16107 “EuroXanth” aims at creating an interdisciplinary network in order to develop strategies for sustainably protecting plants and prevent yield losses. COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. COST Actions help connect research initiatives and enable scientists to grow and share ideas with their peers. Specifically, this COST Action addresses key aspects of the pathogen-vector-host interactions, from the cellular to the population level. A better insight into population structures and virulence mechanisms of the pathogens, together with the exploration of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease resistance, will enable development of durably resistant plant cultivars and exploitation of bio-control schemes tailored to population and pathogen. This COST Action has duration of 4 years (March 2017-March 2021) and will generate a platform that gathers experts from different disciplines, such as molecular diagnostics, molecular host-microbe interactions, plant resistance breeding, etc. The network includes 43 working groups from 21 different countries. Joining their efforts will help to develop and implement effective plant protection schemes, be it via resistant crop cultivars or via other control mechanisms. This goal will be achieved by mobilizing and training scientists from major European institutions, regulatory bodies and commercial companies working on the various aspects of this complex of problems.