CO-FREE Alternative Test Products for Copper Reduction in Agriculture

The project CO-FREE (2012-2016) aimed to develop strategies to replace/reduce copper use in organic, integrated and conventional farming. CO-FREE alternative test products (CTPs) were tested and integrated together with decision support systems, disease-tolerant varieties, and innovative breeding goals (ideotypes) into improved management strategies. CO-FREE focused on apple/apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), grape/downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), and tomato and potato/late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Starting point of the project were ten CTPs with direct or indirect modes of action including Trichoderma atroviride SC1 and protein extract SCNB, Lysobacter spp., yeast-based derivatives, Cladosporium cladosporioides H39, the oligosaccharidic complex COS-OGA, Aneurinibacillus migulanus and Xenorhabdus bovienii, sage (Salvia officinalis) extract, liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) extract, PLEX- and seaweed plant extracts. As the project progressed, further promising CTPs were included by the partners. Field trials were performed in different European countries in 2012-2015 following EPPO standards. In the first years, stand-alone applications of CTPs were tested. In the following years these were integrated into complete strategies. Effects on main and further diseases, on yield and on non-target organisms were assessed. Here, field trial results with CTPs are summarized

Innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems (EU-project co-free)

In January 2012 the EU-project CO-FREE (grant agreement number 289497) was launched. The project is focussed on the development of innovative strategies for replacement of copper in European organic and low input fruit, grapevine, potato, and tomato production systems. CO-FREE focuses on the most copper-relevant diseases, including Venturia inaequalis, Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora infestans. The duration of the project is from January 2012 to June 2016. The multidisciplinary consortium of the project consists of 21 partners, including 11 academic and 10 industry (all small and medium enterprises) partners from 11 European countries. The project follows a construction kit system consisting of different tools, such as alternative compounds, decision support systems, disease tolerant varieties and cropping systems. Research on fundamental aspects is combined with field testing and horizontal activities regarding socio-economic and ecological impacts of the strategies. More information on the project can be found under www.co-free.e

EU-project CO-FREE: innovative strategies for copper-free low input and organic farming systems

The EU-project CO-FREE was launched in January 2012 (grant agreement number 289497, duration 54 months). The aim of this project is the development of innovative strategies for replacement of copper in European organic and low input fruit, grapevine, potato, and tomato production systems. The focus is set on the most copper-relevant diseases, including Venturia inaequalis, Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora infestans. A collaboration of 21 partners, including 11 academic and 10 industry (all small and medium enterprises) partners from 11 European countries, is working towards achievement of this goal. Thereby, the project follows a construction kit system consisting of different tools, including e.g. decision support systems, disease tolerant varieties, cropping systems (including agro-forestry) and alternative compounds/bicontrol agents. Starting points of the project were results of former projects (e.g. REPCO, BlightMop, ENDURE). Twelve of the most promising and advanced pipeline compounds of plant and microbial origin, derived from these EU and national research projects, and from R&D funded by SMEs have been selected for further investigation in CO-FREE. The chosen agents fulfill the following criteria: (i) proven efficacy against at least one of the major copper-controlled diseases, with specific, clearly identified aspects remaining to be improved in the frame of the project (e.g rainfast formulation, clarification of mode of action for optimization of the application parameters), (ii) novelty, and (iii) involvement of a leading/innovative SME company ensuring further development and marketing. The CO-FREE partners are further developing these control agents, and identify their impact on diseases in small scale greenhouse and field trials. Following the construction kit system, control agents are combined with other above mentioned tools, so that finally practice-relevant control strategies will be generated

CCNF mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are overlapping, fatal neurodegenerative disorders in which the molecular and pathogenic basis remains poorly understood. Ubiquitinated protein aggregates, of which TDP-43 is a major component, are a characteristic pathological feature of most ALS and FTD patients. Here we use genome-wide linkage analysis in a large ALS/FTD kindred to identify a novel disease locus on chromosome 16p13.3. Whole-exome sequencing identified a CCNF missense mutation at this locus. Interrogation of international cohorts identified additional novel CCNF variants in familial and sporadic ALS and FTD. Enrichment of rare protein-altering CCNF variants was evident in a large sporadic ALS replication cohort. CCNF encodes cyclin F, a component of an E3 ubiquitin–protein ligase complex (SCFCyclin F). Expression of mutant CCNF in neuronal cells caused abnormal ubiquitination and accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, including TDP-43 and a SCFCyclin F substrate. This implicates common mechanisms, linked to protein homeostasis, underlying neuronal degeneration