Molecular diagnostics in plant health

In several crops, their quality and condition is very important. The products are relatively expensive and plant diseases can destroy valuable harvests in a very short time. The presence or absence of plant pathogens and pests, therefore, needs to be accurately tested. For decades, identification and detection methods have been designed to demonstrate that starting material for further propagation and also certified bulbs, tubers, cuttings, and plants are free of many plant pathogens. Every year, millions of plants are tested, including approximately one and a half million bulbs. Despite the ease of low-cost, fast, and well-automated test methods, such as ELISA, more and more molecular-based techniques are used the last decade. These techniques are, generally, more specific and more sensitive. These new tests are also necessary because plant pathogens are often latent (asymptomatic) present in the material to be tested. The Netherlands has a high in—and export of plants and plant products. These large trading volumes may harbour many plant pathogens. The European Commission has drawn up a list of unwanted plant pathogens (quarantine organisms). This list contains more than 300 different organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, phytoplasmas, nematodes and insects). Each EU-country has to control the in—and export traffic of plants and plant products for the introduction of these unwanted organisms. In the Netherlands, this task is performed by four inspection services: Naktuinbouw (Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture), NAK (The Dutch General Inspection Service), BKD (Inspection Service for Flowerbulbs) and KCB (Quality Control Bureau). The NVWA (Dutch Food and Consumers Authority) is the NPPO (National plant protection organisation) in the Netherlands and supervises the inspection services. Many different molecular methods are used daily for the detection and identification of many plant pathogens and plant diseases

Eight principles of integrated pest management

The use of pesticides made it possible to increase yields, simplify cropping systems, and forego more complicated crop protection strategies. Over-reliance on chemical control, however, is associated with contamination of ecosystems and undesirable health effects. The future of crop production is now also threatened by emergence of pest resistance and declining availability of active substances. There is therefore a need to design cropping systems less dependent on synthetic pesticides. Consequently, the European Union requires the application of eight principles (P) of Integrated Pest Management that fit within sustainable farm management. Here, we propose to farmers, advisors, and researchers a dynamic and flexible approach that accounts for the diversity of farming situations and the complexities of agroecosystems and that can improve the resilience of cropping systems and our capacity to adapt crop protection to local realities. For each principle (P), we suggest that (P1) the design of inherently robust cropping systems using a combination of agronomic levers is key to prevention. (P2) Local availability of monitoring, warning, and forecasting systems is a reality to contend with. (P3) The decision-making process can integrate cropping system factors to develop longer-term strategies. (P4) The combination of non-chemical methods that may be individually less efficient than pesticides can generate valuable synergies. (P5) Development of new biological agents and products and the use of existing databases offer options for the selection of products minimizing impact on health, the environment, and biological regulation of pests. (P6) Reduced pesticide use can be effectively combined with other tactics. (P7) Addressing the root causes of pesticide resistance is the best way to find sustainable cro