The presence of plant pathogens and pests in the field causes huge losses in the yield of crops and ornamental plants. One of the key elements to reduce the impact of any plant pathogen is the correct detection of infected plants and/or contaminated soil and water. Valitest EU project is focusing on the validation of plant health diagnostics. During the 1st semester of 2021, Valitest is offering several online workshops to introduce the importance of plant pathogens detection and test validation in diagnostic kits. This online workshops will offer you an opportunity to increase your theoretical and practical knowledge in diverse molecular techniques. As part of the Valitest consortium, ClearDetections presents you an unique opportunity to try our plant pathogenic nematode species Real-time PCR diagnostic kits in your own laboratory. Specifically, you will be able to detect Bursaphelenchus xylophilus or Meloidogyne chitwoodi. This practical session will be done in combination with five webinars, which will provide further theoretical support.
For more information about training sessions and webinars program, check the following invitation: Training activities announcements Dec 2020 .
If you have further questions you can visit Valitest website, or contact us directly at info@cleardetections.com.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement n°773139.
Fusarium wilt disease on banana, caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) Tropical Race 4 (TR4), is a major threat for banana plantations.
In August 2019 ICA - Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario announced the confirmation of the presence of Fusarium wilt Disease Tropical race 4 in the country (follow link). ClearDetections has been in close contact with the scientist in charge of the diagnostic of FOC TR4 in Colombia Dr. Fernando Garcia-Bastidas by providing support and a fast and reliable tool to help identify this problem.
ClearDetections Real-Time PCR Diagnostic kit Panana Disease (FOC TR4) is being used to detect the pathogen in infected samples, by providing an easy, fast and reliable tool for diagnostic.
ClearDetections is grateful for the trust and collaboration from Dr. Fernando Garcia-Bastidas and we are available to collaborate with any country or organization facing the threat of FOC TR4.
The first step to tackle the problem is Diagnostics!
For further information and collaborations please contact our Operations Manager Marta Santos.
We updated our manual versions referring to products related with Panama Disease FOC TR4 and Banana Plant DNA extraction.
We made them more clear and fine-tuned aspects to improve your user experience.
We kindly invite you to download them here today and start using them. For further questions or information please do not hesitate to contact us.
Do you wish to get familiar with DNA extraction and Real-Time PCR Diagnostics using ClearDetections techniques? That is possible by arranging a training session.
Do you need assistance to set-up our technology in a laboratory? We can design you a tailor-made program to facilitate this.
My name is Marta Santos and I am looking forward to discuss and to work together to find what suits you best! Reach out via marta.santos@cleardetections.com or +31 6 15063020.
Heterodera glycines, also known as soybean cyst nematode is a bisexual cyst-forming species. It invades the root and begin feeding on a group of cells which become modified into a multinucleate syncytium. In the field, there are three to five generations per year. In the absence of a host, contents of cysts may remain viable in soil for 6-8 years.
These characteristics make Heterodera glycines a major pest of soy beans in Asia and the USA. In North Carolina (USA), H. glycines is also a pest on Phaseolus vulgaris. In Japan, it interacts with the fungus Phialophora gregata on Vigna angularis. The nematodes can be controlled by the use of soil-applied nematicides or, more effectively, by nematicides in combination with long crop rotation and the use of resistant and susceptible cultivars in a flexible integrated plant production system.
To help manage this problem in 2016 ClearDetections launched his Real-Time PCR diagnostic kit for H. glycines. Based on the COI region and validated according to the EPPO standards it is a product that allows you clear, quick and specific diagnostic in the laboratory using Real-Time PCR technology.
Using our Real-Time PCR diagnostic kit for H. glycines will make you one step ahead to fight the soybean nematode pest.
Do you want to know more about this product? Do you request assistance to set-up our technology in your laboratory? Get in touch with us via info@cleardetections.com. Our team stands ready to partner up with you and be your partner in plant disease diagnostics.
The BE-Basic project proposal ‘Towards a quick decision SUPPORT tool for SUstainable use of harvest RESidues’ (SURE/SUPPORT) addresses the world wide problems of soil erosion and land degradation. Next to crop production for food and feed, biomass production for energy is needed because of decreasing fossil fuel stocks. For a sustainable and economically profitable biomass production, soil quality and soil organic matter levels need to be secured. At various stages in the biomass refinery chain residues become available that could be returned to the soil as source of organic matter. Currently however, no guiding principles exist as to whether and how these residues could be applied in a sustainable way to maximize their effect in avoiding soil erosion. This Be-Basic project proposes to develop a decision support tool that will help to balance the inevitable residue removal and highly needed residue recycling in a primary production soil. Project leader is dr. A.J. Termorshuizen of the Wageningen-based company SoilCares Research.ClearDetections is SURE/SUPPORT project partner and partner of the BE-Basic consortium.
BE-Basic is an international public-private partnership, funded by the Dutch government between universities, research institutes and industries of various scales in the field of sustainable chemistry and ecology. Its mission is to develop industrial biobased solutions for a sustainable society.
Throughout history, few plant disease epidemics have devastated production of an agricultural commodity as severely as Panama disease, i.e. Fusarium wilt, of banana. The disease is caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC). In contrast to black Sigatoka, the other fungal threat of banana, FOC cannot be controlled with fungicides and produces infectious spores that survive in soil for decades. Currently there is a new outbreak of Panama disease that is caused by the so-called Tropical Race 4 (FOC TR4). This new vicious race of Panama disease is extremely virulent, widely infecting banana germplasm destined for domestic and international markets, including Cavendish, and spreads rapidly in South East Asia. Therefore, the international research and policymaking community on bananas has been alarmed and is calling for concerted action to control this disease. In this INREF consortium research institutes, representatives of different types of growers and international policy-related banana networks work together, convinced that control of Panama disease requires concerted action.
INREF is the development oriented Interdisciplinary Research & Education Fund of Wageningen University (The Netherlands). The project ‘Panama Disease in Banana: Multi level solutions for a global Problem’ was granted research funding in 2012. ClearDetections is involved as INREF partner and has co-developed a molecular detection test (Real-time PCR) for the detection of FOC TR4 in plant material and identification of fungal cultures. More information about FOC TR4 and the project on the Panama Disease specific website.
PromoBanana is a FDOV funded project and aims to protect, modernize and involve the Philippine banana sector and develop the agro-laboratory capacity for the benefit of every producer. The purpose of this project, based on a business case, is to build upon a local laboratory service capacity. This service will provide banana farmers with more efficient and precise tools for detecting and containing fast spreading diseases and optimise their application of fertilizers and other agronomic aspects. The project aims to close the traditional gap between smallholders, medium sized farmers and large exporting plantations in order to ensure food security, improved resource use and build up resilience in an otherwise volatile sector. Currently, the livelihood of millions of people are at stake by the re-emergence of the devastating Panama disease. It cannot be controlled, cured, wipes out banana plantations and contaminates soils for decades. It threatens banana production throughout the world and on any plantation, regardless of the plantation size. This is on top of other diseases and pests, like the ‘Black Sigatoka’ disease and nematodes. By bringing the latest and robust technology for modern disease management, soil analysis and crop monitoring along with capacity building (based on some simple measures) and technology adoption programmes, PromoBanana may rationalise and improve crop production. This may increase incomes of farmers and generates new and more jobs. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is formal partner in this project. Please follow this link for more information (in Dutch).