Xylella fastidiosa is a vector-transmitted bacterial plant pathogen associated with serious diseases in a wide range of plants. It is therefore urgent to find measures to directly control, not only the vector but also the bacterium.
Academic and company partners from BIOVEXO project have compiled the present review reporting either the current status of biocontrol solutions provided by the consortium that are directly targeting the Xylella pathogen (X-biopesticides) or existing not official solutions outside the consortium.
Biopesticides represent one of the key pillars of plant health protection in sustainable agriculture. Currently, chemical pesticides are predominantly used; however, these products are not environmentally friendly and are not compatible with organic production.
The antimicrobial properties of some natural occurring products are well-known since ancient times. Among all, the Allium genus is especially important and very used since centuries both for the characteristic flavor and the health benefits. The antimicrobial properties of members of Allium are due to the presence of organosulfur compounds (OSCs), also responsible for the pungency of these vegetables.
In this activity (task 1.3) of the BIOVEXO project, the main goal was to obtain an onion (Allium cepa) extract, rich in these OSCs which have been proposed as good candidates to combat Xylella fastidiosa.
In Apulia, as well as in Mallorca, both types of field trials started as planned in spite of the COVID-19 lockdown period. New olives were planted in Apulia before the start of the project, in March 2020, to prevent losing a year of trials.
Deliverable D1.5 reports on the experiments carried out during the first two years of the project to evaluate “application methods and small-scale field trials of X-biopesticides”. As such, the deliverable led to the selection of the application modes of the best promising X-biopesticides that will be further tested during the large-scale field trials in WP4.
A key strategy in reducing Xylella fastidiosa infection in olive trees is to limit transmission of the pathogen by the xylem-sap feeding Philaenus spumarius (‘meadow spittlebug’). This polyphagous insect is the main Xf-vector in Italy and on almond in Mallorca and is widespread throughout Europe.
Deliverable 2.2 reports on the lab testing of the consortium’s V-biopesticides in order to obtain a protocol with the optimal concentration ranges, application methods and application parameters.
Deliverable D2.3 consists of a technical report that collects the data on the optimisation of production of the entomopathogenic fungus, the microbial metabolites and the plant waste extract and their optimised production protocols.
Production of fungal spores of the entomopathogenic fungus was tested at laboratory scale by both liquid (by BIOVEXO partner Acies Bio) and solid-state fermentation.
The control of the vector populations is a central pillar in the overarching strategies of controlling vector-borne diseases. Indeed, this has more relevance in the case of infections caused by Xylella fastidiosa (Xf), for which the lack of any effective therapy to cure infected hosts makes the control of the vectors crucial for the containment of the infections.
Surveys for potential insect vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe and in particular, in the Mediterranean countries, have indicated that the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.) is so far the most important vector species of X. fastidiosa as shown by its major role in the devastating epidemic of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) caused by X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca ST53 in the Apulia region in Italy and in the spread of Pierce’s disease in vineyards of Mallorca in Spain. This report explores the results of small-scale field trials to target P.spumarius.
Based on MS1 (First decision on promising compounds), the selected active ingredients and microbial strains with activity against Xylella or the vector from WPs 1-2 have been formulated individually with appropriate components, carriers, and additives.
For biopesticides to be competitive with the current products, their production methods must be thoroughly optimised. Shelf life, production costs, reproducibility, and reliability must match or at least come close to the current low cost of chemical pesticides. D3.1 explores optimisation of production methods and formulations, and certain unexpected technical issues and challenges.
Deliverable D3.3 reports studies aiming at evaluating the persistence of X-biopesticides once applied by drip irrigation or as foliar spray.
The deliverable describes in detail large-scale field trials performed in the season 2022 in Italy and Spain.
Large scale field trials, planned in Work Package 4, started in spring of 2022. The present deliverable reports a very preliminary assessment of the performances and effects of X- and V-biopesticides selected during the first two years of the BIOVEXO Project.
A vegetable extract, a by-product from the food industry not suitable for human consumption, and two bacterial beneficial endophytes are under testing in open field conditions.
V-biopesticides can kill the insect vector of Xylella fastidiosa, e.g. Philaenus spumarius. In this deliverable, we focus on the possibility that not only V- biopesticides as microorganisms but also X-biopesticides, that trigger Xylella fastidiosa, can colonise the insect vector and form populations on and inside it, following application. In parallel, we follow up the survival and colonisation of the V-biopesticide entomopathogenic fungus on the insect.
To understand the mode of action, the effects of novel biopesticide application on the plant’s defense system are analyzed via plant transcriptome analysis after biopesticide treatment.
The behaviour of X-biopesticides after application needed to be determined. Our results show the dynamics of populations of the biopesticides based on bacteria across time, as well as which plant organs could be colonised.
All the tested bacterial biopesticides do not persist in the field and when they are detected, they are at a level of log 1-2 but log 7 was applied in foliar spray. These results are promising as the biopesticides are not invasive in the plant-environment interface.
The impact of each X-biopesticide on Xylella population sizes on olive and almond trees needed to be determined. Our results show that X-biopesticides do not have any effect on Xylella population sizes, even if a disease reduction occurs in the case of the application of some X-biopesticides.
Deliverable D6.1 compiles the toxicological data available of the solutions investigated in BIOVEXO. This information has been obtained from the partners involved (DOMCA, GLOBACHEM, AIT) and also from a scientific literature review.
The aim of this deliverable is to evaluate and update the business plans submitted at the start of the project.
To understand the environmental performance of the novel biopesticide before maturity and to guide decision making on product choice, a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) for two Xylella-biopesticides (X-biopesticide) has been conducted in this report.
The aim of this deliverable is to report the results obtained in the toxicological tests performed to date with the solutions investigated in BIOVEXO.
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The purpose of the DEC Plan is to serve as a consensus finding, information and control instrument on all dissemination, exploitation and communication (DEC) activities among all partners in the BIOVEXO project. The DEC Plan describes the strategy and overall approach, also containing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and activity plans for the first project Period.
The purpose of the DEC Plan is to serve as a consensus finding, information and control instrument on all dissemination, exploitation and communication (DEC) activities among all partners in the BIOVEXO project. The DEC Plan describes the strategy and overall approach, also containing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and activity plans for Period 2.
The purpose of the DEC Plan is to serve as a consensus finding, information and control instrument on all dissemination, exploitation and communication (DEC) activities among all partners in the BIOVEXO project. The DEC Plan describes the strategy and overall approach, also containing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and activity plans for Period 3.
In the first half of the project, BIOVEXO has been continuously increasing efforts to maintain and further improve the main dissemination and communication tools. First half of the project was marked by the establishment of BIOVEXO social media accounts, creation of open-access repository, as well as creation and further optimisation of the communication toolkit – including a project leaflet, project roll-up, a fact sheet, and a scientific poster.
This is the publishable summary of a confidential deliverable for use by the consortium partners and the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU – Former BBI-JU). The Deliverable D7.5 Mid-project Exploitation Plan is the first report on measures taken to ensure the post-project use of results and the actual exploitable results attained so far.
The purpose of the DEC Plan is to serve as a consensus finding, information, and control instrument on all dissemination, exploitation, and communication (DEC) activities among all partners in the BIOVEXO project. The DEC Plan describes the strategy and overall approach, also containing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and activity plans for Period 4.
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This project manual shall help partners in the implementation of the project. It covers financial issues, consortium bodies and their roles, reporting procedures and templates; review process of deliverables, etc. This document will be updated at later stages as needed.
This deliverable elaborates on the principles of data management adopted by all partners in the Consortium Agreement to ensure the post-project re-use of the data processed and generated during the project implementation in compliance with article 29.3 of the Grant Agreement (Open Research Data Pilot (ORDP).
This deliverable provides updated and fully functional versions of the template form and tools to report the datasets that have been processed and generated by the partners at the end of each Project Period.
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