The final newsletter of VIRTIGATION brings the last project highlights, activities and events after 4,5 years of research conducted.

The VIRTIGATION project looks back on 4,5 years of research & innovation to protect tomato and cucurbit crops from emerging viruses.

VIRTIGATION partner JKI investigates in a new review how vertical transmission of tomato viruses poses a hidden threat to global seed trade.

In a new review, VIRTIGATION partner INRAE explores the escalating threat posed by ToLCNDV on cucurbit crops in the Mediterranean basin.

Nuestro tercer podcast entrevista a expertos y expertas en sanidad vegetal sobre el control de virus en cultivos hortícolas de invernadero.

On 25 September, VIRTIGATION partner PCH organised our 7th webinar on Bemisia tabaci, whitefly and ToLCNDV plant virus control.

VIRTIGATION partner WUR reports in a new study that the Tm-1 allele from S. pennellii with an additional locus could offer ToBRFV resistance.

In a new publication, VIRTIGATION partner JKI built a novel ToBRFV infectious clone to explore how the virus spreads and infects plants.

A recent publication by VIRTIGATION partners KU Leuven and EMWEB proposes a novel method for in-depth analysis of circular DNA virus genomes.

On 7 November, VIRTIGATION will hold a final event in Leuven to present its results in tackling emerging plant viruses in tomato & cucurbit.

VIRTIGATION partners LNW, TECNOVA, Volcani Center & WUR have assessed the effectiveness of two new methods to eradicate tobamoviruses in soil.

VIRTIGATION partners NRI, CSIC, Volcani Center and INRAE have assessed plant virus transmission dynamics by whiteflies and weeds.

VIRTIGATION partners KU Leuven and EMWEB have developed new protocols for genome sequencing of circular DNA and linear RNA plant viruses.

On 9 July, VIRTIGATION partner LIST organised our 6th webinar on the impact of climate change on the transmission of viruses by whiteflies.

VIRTIGATION partners Natural Resources Institute & Volcani Center have explored the role of seed transmission on viral disease spread to Europe.

The eighth newsletter of the VIRTIGATION project brings the latest project activities, events and publications.

Le 6 mai 2025, l’APREL et l’INRAE, partenaires de VIRTIGATION, ont organisé un webinaire sur les virus émergents en cucurbitacées et tomates.

On the 29th of April, VIRTIGATION partner TECNOVA organised a project webinar on the emerging threats posed by Geminiviruses.

On the 8th of April 2025, VIRTIGATION hosted the opening session at the prestigious IAPV 25 conference in Murcia.

The new edition of the VIRTIGATION Plant Health Stories podcast highlights the role and research of our partner Natural Resources Institute.

El 1 de abril, los socios de VIRTIGATION AGAPA, IHSM-CSIC y TECNOVA presentan soluciones sostenibles contra la mosca blanca en un webinario.

On the 1st of April, VIRTIGATION partners APREL and INRAE organised the project’s third lunchtime webinar on the topic of emerging viruses.

VIRTIGATION partners LIST and INRAE have assessed the impact of climate change on the spread of viral diseases in European agriculture.

On 11 March, VIRTIGATION partner Wageningen University and Research organised the project’s second lunchtime webinar on the topic of virus detection.

On 4 March, VIRTIGATION organised with its partners SAGROPIA, BIOVEXO & NextGenBioPest a webinar on the future of plant protection in the EU.

The first event dispatch of the VIRTIGATION project highlights our upcoming events in the field of plant health.

On 11 February, VIRTIGATION partners DCM CORP and JKI organised the project's first lunchtime webinar on the topic of cross-protection.

From 11-12 February, VIRTIGATION participated in a highly impactful online event organised by the EU Commission on R&I in pesticides.

Una nueva infografía de los socios de VIRTIGATION AGAPA y el Centro Volcani elabora el control de ToBRFV mediante la desinfección del suelo.

VIRTIGATION partner EMWEB has introduced key improvements to its Genome Detective tool to enhance the detection of plant viruses.

VIRTIGATION partners AGAPA and Volcani Center have developed a new infographic on improved strategies for ToBRFV control by soil disinfection.

VIRTIGATION partners WU and VC have made key advances in identifying and introgressing ToBRFV resistance into cultivated tomato varieties.

El nuevo podcast Historias de Sanidad Vegetal de VIRTIGATION destaca los esfuerzos de nuestros socios en la lucha contra los virus vegetales emergentes en tomates y cucurbitáceas. En el primer episodio, nuestro socio divulgador español AGAPA se sienta con los investigadores principales de nuestro socio CRAG para hablar de su papel en el proyecto VIRTIGATION.

The new VIRTIGATION Plant Health Stories podcast highlights our partners' efforts in fighting emerging plant viruses in tomatoes & cucurbits. In the first episode, our Spanish dissemination partner AGAPA sits down with lead investigators of our partner CRAG to discuss their role in the VIRTIGATION project.

A recent biobased industry event in Austria showcased the potential of chitinase in controlling the devastating Bemisia tabaci whitefly.

The fourth edition of our series "What's new in plant science?", provides an overview on key scientific publications in September-December 2024. While not released by VIRTIGATION partners themselves, they still include crucial findings for the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

The seventh newsletter of the VIRTIGATION project highlights the latest project activities, events and publications.

Starting January 1, 2025, EU Member States are expected to reclassify ToBRFV as a regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP).

VIRTIGATION partners have contributed to the recent update of the EPPO Pest Risk Analysis for the ToBRFV plant virus.

A new study involving VIRTIGATION partner EMWEB's Genome Detective software proposes a groundbreaking new Dengue Lineage System.

As the EU is discussing the inclusion of a definition for biocontrol in the Uniform Principles for the evaluation of Plant Protection Products, Tiziana Centofanti from the VIRTIGATION project provides an overview on this crucial method for plant pest control.

On the 3rd of October, VIRTIGATION presented its high-potential results at the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace 2024 in Cairo.

VIRTIGATION partners UASB and NRI-UoG have developed a new hands-on training manual on how to use novel plant pathogen detection methods.

Entre el 16-19 de septiembre, el CSIC, socio de VIRTIGATION, participó en el XXI Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Fitopatología (SEF) en Córdoba.

Entre el 2-5 de septiembre, el CRAG, socio de VIRTIGATION, participó en el XVII Congreso Nacional de Virología en Santiago de Compostela.

VIRTIGATION took part in the Technology Talks Austria 2024 edition to showcase its latest project advances.

The third edition of our series "What's new in plant science?", provides an overview on scientific publications gathered during June-August 2024. While not released by VIRTIGATION partners themselves, they still include crucial findings for the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

VIRTIGATION has been invited to present its high-potential results at the upcoming Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace 2024, which will take place on the 3rd of October in Cairo.

On 28 June, VIRTIGATION co-organised with plant health sister projects a highly impactful online event focused on supporting the transition towards pesticide reduction in the EU.

The second edition of our series "What's new in plant science?", provides an overview on scientific publications gathered during March-May 2024. While not published by VIRTIGATION partners themselves, they still include highly relevant findings for the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

The International Advances in Plant Virology (IAPV) conference brings together leading plant virologists. For the IAPV25 taking place from 8-11 April 2025 in Murcia, Spain, VIRTIGATION will co-host this flagship plant health event.

VIRTIGATION has published its third batch of EIP-AGRI Practice Abstracts, which provide practical guidance and information to the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

Explore the sixth newsletter of the VIRTIGATION project, which outlines the latest activities, events and publications from the project.

From 15-17 May 2024, VIRTIGATION partners gathered in Catania, Italy, for the third annual meeting. They analyzed progress made so far and planned research & innovation actions for the final year of the project. Read our recap of VIRTIGATION’s visit to one of the EU's most important horticultural production areas.

VIRTIGATION has released its second batch of EIP-AGRI Practice Abstracts, which provide useful guidance and information to the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

VIRTIGATION partners TECNOVA and Landwirtschaftskammer Nordrhein-Westfalen have developed a new poster to guide growers on how to disinfect TMV-contaminated substrate with solarization and steaming.

In de winter van 2024 werd op VIRTIGATION partner Proefcentrum Hoogstraten een proef uitgevoerd, waarbij bespuitingen met plantextracten werden toegepast om tabakswittevlieg (Bemisia tabaci) te beheersen. Rani Mertens van het Proefcentrum Hoogstraten rapporteert.

A new study by VIRTIGATION partner Volcani Center unveiled new strategies for controlling ToBRFV contamination in soil through disinfection.

A new paper by VIRTIGATION partner UNICT investigated the geographic distribution and diversity of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly in Italy.

VIRTIGATION has published its first EIP-AGRI Practice Abstracts, which aim to provide useful guidance and information to the stakeholders of our multi-actor network.

Escuche el informe de audio sobre la jornada técnica en Almería organizada recientemente por los socios de VIRTIGATION AGAPA y TECNOVA.

The first edition of our new series "What's new in plant science?", provides an overview on scientific publications gathered during January-February 2024. While not published by VIRTIGATION itself, they include highly relevant findings for the stakeholders of our network.

VIRTIGATION partners DCM CORP and Scientia Terrae have developed a new poster to growers on how to recognise ToBRFV symptoms.

El 22 de febrero 2024, tendrá lugar en el centro experimental de TECNOVA en Almería una jornada técnica organizada por AGAPA y TECNOVA con los agentes de interés, sobre estrategias de gestión integrada de plagas para el control de virus en invernaderos hortícolas en Almería.

On the 22nd of February 2024, VIRTIGATION partners AGAPA and TECNOVA will organise a stakeholder workshop on IPM strategies for virus control in horticultural greenhouses in Almería.

In the final edition of the "Plant research glimpse" series, an overview on VIRTIGATION research & innovation progress at mid-term mark of the project is provided.

In a new edition of our "Plant research glimpse" series, we highlight a recently published paper of VIRTIGATION partners CSIC and CRAG in the Viruses journal, which explored how the genes in tomato plants change over time after an infection with the Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV).

Discover the fifth newsletter published by the VIRTIGATION project, which outlines the latest news, activities & scientific publications from the project.

The third edition of our blog series "Plant research glimpse" includes a status update on mixed viral infections provided by scientist Christine Vos from VIRTIGATION partner Scientia Terrae. In this project research focus, VIRTIGATION seeks to determine the role of mixed viral infections in modulating host resistances, virus transmission and climate-dependent symptom manifestations.

In the second edition of our blog series “Plant research glimpse”, we focus on a new paper published in the Biological Control journal by VIRTIGATION partners LIST and UNICT. Their study assesses the longevity of the key whitefly biocontrol agent Encarsia formosa, a parasitoid, under projected future climate change conditions.

What are the latest developments and trending topics in plant research? To unveil this, our new blog series “Plant research glimpse” highlights relevant recent scientific, peer-reviewed open access publications. We start with a new study published in the Phytoparasatica journal by VIRTIGATION partners LIST and UNICT, which evaluates the longevity of a key whitefly biocontrol agent, the parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus, under projected future climate change conditions.

On 10 June 2023, VIRTIGATION visited the facilities of its Indian international partner UASB to check their progress made in fighting ToLCNDV.

Tomato and cucurbits are increasingly threatened by whitefly-transmitted diseases. Read our blog to find out more about this devastating plant pest.

The European Commission has published a proposal for a new Regulation on plants produced by certain new genomic techniques as part of a parcel of legislative proposals related to the EU’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies.

Read the fourth newsletter published by the VIRTIGATION project, which outlines the latest news, activities & publications from the project.

In the second edition of our "#Meet the VIRTIGATION Advisory Board Members" series, we speak with Valérie Grimault, Assistant Director at the key international plant protection organisation EPPO and renowned ToBRFV expert.

In a new paper published in BMC Plant Methods, VIRTIGATION partner Stichting Wageningen Research (WR) showcases a new innovative software tool - the Eggsplorer - to facilitate whitefly counting and determination of plant-insect resistance.

In a new review paper published in the Agronomy journal, VIRTIGATION partner Wageningen University (WU) looks to nature for strategies to halt devastating disease outbreaks of ToBRFV.

While the wild cucurbit E. Elaterium is frequently infected by the ToLCNDV Spain strain, it is not a relevant reservoir for viral disease spread , as VIRTIGATION partners University of Catania (UNICT) and CSIC prove in a new paper published in Insects. UNICT and CSIC's new publication also clarifies key aspects of the whitefly transmission of ToLCNDV.

The VIRTIGATION Advisory Board is a new project body tasked with providing strategic recommendations to better guide research & innovation efforts. Following its establishment at the last annual meeting in Israel, it is now time to introduce its members. Meet Darren Martin, Associate Professor in Computational Biology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in the first instalment of our new series "#Meet the VIRTIGATION Advisory Board Members".

From 8-10 May 2023, VIRTIGATION partners gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, for the second annual meeting, to take stock of progress made and plan the next research & innovation actions for the project.

In the fourth edition of our blog series Plant virus snapshots, the whitefly-transmitted ipomovirus Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) is in the spotlight.

The third edition of our blog series Plant virus snapshots focuses on a plant virus from the Closteroviridae virus family, the Tomato chlorosis virus. The Tomato chlorosis virus is one of two criniviruses that are transmitted by whiteflies.

In a new paper published in the PLOS ONE journal, VIRTIGATION partner Volcani Center identifies the invasive weeds Solanum elaeagnifolium and Solanum rostratum as potential ToBRFV hosts.

In a new literature review published in the Trends in Plant Science journal, VIRTIGATION partner CSIC unveils the secrets of success of Begomoviruses like ToLCNDV and TYLCV.

In a new paper published in the Insects journal, VIRTIGATION partner University of Catania (UNICT) shows how the Macrolophus pygmaeus predatory bug, a natural enemy of the Bemisia tabaci whitefly, can reduce its damage on plants.

The second edition of our blog series Plant virus snapshots focuses on a plant virus from the Bromoviridae virus family, the Cucumber mosaic virus. The Cucumber mosaic virus has the reputation of having the widest host range of any known plant virus.

Tomatoes & cucurbits are not only affected by ToBRFV, ToLCNDV and TYLCV, but by many other plant viruses as well. Our new blog series Plant virus snapshots shines a light on other key tobamo- and begomoviruses commonly found in tomato & cucurbit crops. We start off with the tobamovirus Tomato mosaic virus, one of the oldest described plant viruses.

Read the third newsletter published by the Horizon 2020 VIRTIGATION project.

In the fifth and final edition of our "Plant health policy at a glance" series, we shine a light on the main pillars of EU plant health law, and how they help combat ToBRFV and ToLCNDV in tomatoes and cucurbits.

El 30 de marzo 2022, los VIRTIGATION socios TECNOVA y AGAPA organizaron el primer workshop del proyecto con agentes de interés en Almería. Lea nuestro informe detallado sobre las conversaciones que VIRTIGATION mantuvo con las principales agentes de interés de la capital europea de los invernaderos.

On the 30th of March 2022, VIRTIGATION partners TECNOVA and AGAPA organized the project's first multi-actor workshop with stakeholders in Almería. Read our detailed report on the fruiful discussions VIRTIGATION held with key local stakeholders from Europe's greenhouse capital.

In the fourth edition of our "Plant health policy at a glance" series, we present the crucial role of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in tackling ToBRFV and ToLCNDV in tomatoes and cucurbits.

The third edition of our "Plant health policy at a glance" blog series focuses on the vital role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the fight against ToBRFV and ToLCNDV in tomatoes and cucurbits.

In the second edition of our "Plant health policy at a glance" blog series, we explore the crucial role of the National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) in tackling ToBRFV and ToLCNDV through national plant health policies.

There are various policies, regulations, institutions and standardization bodies that govern the fight against ToBRFV and ToLCNDV in tomatoes and cucurbits. Our new blog series "Plant health policy at a glance" explores the key players in this field. In its first edition, we present the EPPO, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.

Read the second newsletter published by the Horizon 2020 VIRTIGATION project.

The final edition of our country focus blog series explores the emerging viral diseases situation in our target countries Italy, Luxembourg, the UK, Israel, India and Morocco.

From 30 March - 1 April 2022, VIRTIGATION partners gathered in Almería, Spain for the first face-to-face annual meeting, to discuss progress made and the next steps ahead for the project

The fifth edition of our country focus blog series explores the situation in our focus country Germany, one of Europe's biggest agricultural producers.

On the 30th of March 2022, the VIRTIGATION network will be launched through a workshop gathering key local stakeholders in Almería, in parallel to the project's annual meeting.

In the fourth edition of our country focus blog series, VIRTIGATION looks at its target country France, which is Europe's largest agricultural producer.

The third edition of our country focus blog series covers the VIRTIGATION target country Spain, which is home to the world's largest concentration of greenhouses.

In the second edition of our country focus blog series, we shine a light on the situation in the VIRTIGATION focus country Netherlands, a key agriculture exporter in the world.

Read the first newsletter published by the Horizon 2020 VIRTIGATION project.

The horticulture sector worldwide is firmly in the grip of emerging viral diseases caused by TYLCV, ToLCNDV and ToBRFV. In our new blog series, we shine a light on the situation in VIRTIGATION's focus countries, and what is being done to address it.

The United Nations have declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables. This is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the key role of fruits and vegetables in food security, nutrition and human health.

Take a look at the highlights of the recent VIRTIGATION explained series, which shed a light on the science and purpose of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 VIRTIGATION project.

On the 15th of September 2021, VIRTIGATION celebrated its public launch with the unveiling of its website and press releases for general and specialist audiences. Multiple renowned press and media outlets across the globe covered the project's public launch. Read our overview to find out more:

On the 15th-16th of June 2021, the VIRTIGATION project held its kick-off meeting as a virtual meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions imposed by national authorities across the globe. Although partners couldn’t meet personally, an international cooperation was successfully established in the virtual kick-off meeting, which 59 participants from the VIRTIGATION consortium attended.