Posted on Fri, 05 Feb 2016, 16:02

19-22 April 2016, Bari, Italy

As the workshop has already received registrations exceeding the number of participants that can be accommodated, the pre-registrations closure will be anticipated to Friday 18th of March.

The selection of participants will be shortly undertaken. We apologize in advance if we cannot give a positive answer for your participation. Nevertheless, the first day of the workshop will be streamed online and all documents related to this workshop will be made available.

We thank you for your interest and we look forward other opportunities to collaborate with you.

Thank you for your understanding..

This international training workshop intends to provide the most recent information on this topic and to demonstrate on the field and in laboratory innovative and efficient diagnostic, surveillance and control methods. For this reason, the number of participants is limited to 60 and this training workshop targets primarily National Plant Protection Organizations from the Mediterranean and Near East areas to develop their phytosanitary capacities. Selection criteria will be applied for participants and the outcome of this selection will be communicated by the 1st of April.

1. Background

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is a devastating pathogen which affects more than 300 plant hosts belonging to crop, ornamental, forestry and natural vegetation species. Among them Citrus, grapes, almonds and olive are of main importance in the Near East and North Africa region.

Following the outbreaks of X. fastidiosa associated to the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) in Apulia (Italy), the National Plant Protections Organizations of the North-African and Near East countries have strongly expressed their concern and the need to get further information and training on Xylella fastidosa and the quick decline syndrome of olive to be able to prevent the introduction and spread of this pest.

As a result, a first training workshop is organized to share updated information on the syndrome and train NPPOs on Xylella fastidiosa and related vectors, and on aspects as surveillance, diagnostic and control methods.

2. Organization of the Training Workshop

Organizers: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as well as the Near-East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO), the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (MAIB), with the scientific support of the EUPHRESCO network and Apulian research institutions dealing with Plant Pathology (Universities, National Research Council, other research centers) are joining forces to organize a training workshop to share updated concrete information on the pathogen, the disease and relative vectors, and train NPPOs on surveillance, diagnostic and control methods.

Location: The training workshop will be held at the CIHEAM facilities in Bari. Participants will be able to see the symptoms and impacts of this bacterium in the field, and to be trained on surveillance (quick decline syndrome and vectors), diagnostic methods and control measures.

Target audience: NPPO staff and researchers specifically working on X. fastidiosa and the quick decline syndrome of olive. About 60 participants are expected from all over the Mediterranean basin.

3. Tentative programme of the Training Workshop

Tuesday 19th of April Morning

Session 1: Opening; general presentations on the pathogen and relative vectors and disease impact; the Apulian outbreak; the state of the research.

Afternoon

Session 2: PRAs and existing projects (EUPHRESCO, FAO, etc.)

Wednesday 20th of April

Morning

Session 3: Legal aspects, presentation of the EC legislation, presentation of other countries legislations and implications for trade. Discussion on contingency measures with experts.

Afternoon

Session 4: Surveillance and control methods.

Thursday 21st of April

Field trip dedicated to field observations and sampling procedures.

Friday 22nd of April

Morning

Demonstration of diagnostic assays

Afternoon

Session 5: Communication aspects on Xylella fastidiosa and the Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS), as well as on pests in general.

There is no registration fee but participants will cover their meals and transportation while on the spot.

Pre-registration are open until the 28th of March. To register please click here.

Call for abstracts is open until the 15th of March. To submit an abstract please click here.

The selection of pre-registered participants will be communicated by the 1st of April.