Objectives

RESEARCH COORDINATION

To develop, implement, compare and standardize methods of pathogen detection by coordinating research on molecular diagnostics of plant-pathogenic Xanthomonadaceae (WG1)
To estimate the risk of epidemics and outbreaks by coordinating research on the genetic diversity and population structure of plant-associated Xanthomonadaceae (WG1).
To develop, distribute and valorize bioinformatics tools for data analysis by coordinating research and development in the field of epidemiology and population genetics (WG1).
To identify key bacterial factors in the microbe-eukaryote interaction at different steps of the infection/dissemination cycle by coordinating research on the pathogen’s biology (WG2).
To identify elicitors of plant defense responses as targets for resistance breeding by coordinating research on pathogen-associated molecular patterns and effector-triggered immunity (WG2).
To discover novel resistance traits by coordinating research on QTL mapping, genome-wide association studies, comparative genomics and transcriptome analyses (WG3).
To generate durably resistant crop cultivars by coordinating research and development in the field of breeding, transgenesis and genome editing of resistance traits (WG3).
To evaluate and establish disease control measurements by coordinating research on the impact of biological products/microorganisms to control xanthomonads and Xylella fastidiosa and to prevent the spread of infections (WG4).
To evaluate and compare approaches to eliminate or reduce vector populations by coordinating research on adapted agronomic practices, effects of volatile compounds, and trapping systems (WG4).

CAPACITY BUILDING

Continued education of European investigators and linking them with most relevant stakeholders (e.g. EPPO, national regulatory authorities and companies active in the fields of crop breeding, biocontrol or development of diagnostic tools) by annual general conferences covering topics of all four working groups.
Target-oriented training of European investigators by specific workshops that will introduce the concepts of new technologies, methods and tools, along with hands-on training to foster familiarity with these techniques.
Mentoring of early-career European investigators by a training school that will be dedicated to skills required by early-career investigators to develop a successful career in the field.
On-site training of European investigators, mainly at the early-career stage, by inter-laboratory exchange of personnel in the frame of Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM).
Lower entrance hurdles for young scientists and newcomers in the field by collecting, drafting, and making available guidelines for experimental approaches to avoid time-consuming, erroneous investments.