Morphological and molecular characterisation of Potato Cyst Nematode populations from Tunisia and survey of their probable geographical origin

International audienceIn order to investigate species and distribution of the Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN), Globodera spp., present in Tunisia, soil samples were collected from 118 different potato fields in 6 different regions. Identification of Globodera species was based on some morphological criteria and confirmed by PCR-RFLP. The RAPD was used to compare Tunisian and Europeans PCN populations to reveal a possible phylogeny between them and then determine the origin of infestations. This is the first report of molecular characterisation and polymorphism of PCN populations in Tunisia. Biological tests using resistant and susceptible cultivars of potato were done in vitro on G. rostochiensis populations to determine the pathotypes. Analysis showed that 37.28% of the investigated fields were infested by PCN. Morphological and molecular analysis, showed the presence of G. pallida and G. rostochiensis having different proportions according to regions. The RAPD revealed that Tunisian G. pallida populations correspond to Pa2/3 pathotypes group and biological results proved that the G. rostochiensis populations belong to the Ro1/4 pathotype. Results from the bootstrap analysis showed a great similarity with G. pallida and G. rostochiensis groups of European populations, evidence that Tunisian populations of PCN are derived from importation and exchange of potato seed

PESTOLIVE: a mediterranean research project for understanding and managing soil-borne parasites on olive using historical and ecological approaches

UMR AGAP - équipe AFEF - Architecture et fonctionnement des espèces fruitièresPESTOLIVE (Contribution of olive history for the management of soil-borne parasites inthe Mediterranean Basin) is a project funded by ARIMNet, an ERANET action supported bythe 7th European Framework Programme and by non-European Mediterranean countries.PESTOLIVE aims at producing knowledge and tools for a new and efficient management ofplant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) and plant-pathogenic fungi (PPF) in olive (Olea europaea L.)cropping systems and nurseries, while reducing the use of pesticides. Because of the anthropiccontinuum from Olea post-glacial refuges to Oleasters (domestication) and then to olive-trees(breeding and cropping), the fragmentation of the PPN and PPF communities and of theirnatural enemies could explain the scattered diversity of the control techniques (especiallyresistance rootstocks, biocontrol, cropping strategies) developed and applied all around theMediterranean Basin. The novelty of PESTOLIVE is based on: i) the analysis and themanagement of the parasite diversity (ecology of communities) instead of controllingemblematic species (population approach), and ii) the involvement of knowledge about thehistorical co-adaptation of soil-borne parasite and natural enemies communities to olive-treedomestication (origins and past assemblages) and breeding that follows the history of O.europaea around the Mediterranean Basin

PESTOLIVE: a mediterranean research project for understanding and managing soil-borne parasites on olive using historical and ecological approaches

UMR AGAP - équipe AFEF - Architecture et fonctionnement des espèces fruitièresPESTOLIVE (Contribution of olive history for the management of soil-borne parasites inthe Mediterranean Basin) is a project funded by ARIMNet, an ERANET action supported bythe 7th European Framework Programme and by non-European Mediterranean countries.PESTOLIVE aims at producing knowledge and tools for a new and efficient management ofplant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) and plant-pathogenic fungi (PPF) in olive (Olea europaea L.)cropping systems and nurseries, while reducing the use of pesticides. Because of the anthropiccontinuum from Olea post-glacial refuges to Oleasters (domestication) and then to olive-trees(breeding and cropping), the fragmentation of the PPN and PPF communities and of theirnatural enemies could explain the scattered diversity of the control techniques (especiallyresistance rootstocks, biocontrol, cropping strategies) developed and applied all around theMediterranean Basin. The novelty of PESTOLIVE is based on: i) the analysis and themanagement of the parasite diversity (ecology of communities) instead of controllingemblematic species (population approach), and ii) the involvement of knowledge about thehistorical co-adaptation of soil-borne parasite and natural enemies communities to olive-treedomestication (origins and past assemblages) and breeding that follows the history of O.europaea around the Mediterranean Basin