The International Diagnostic Protocol for the determination of bacteria X. fastidiosa is a guideline developed by designated experts of the European regional plant protection organization. Project leader, dr. Tanja Dreo, a nominated member of the EPPO Panel on bacterial diagnostics, was selected as an Expert Group to update the protocol contributing our expertise and validation data.
F.31 Development of standards
COBISS.SI-ID: 4807759The results of the project have significantly contributed to the optimization of the diagnosis of Xylella fastidiosa in various plants. The results were postponed to publicly available validation data bases and successfully used as the basis for the accreditation application (ISO17025) of the screening tests for the determination of this bacterium. The Laboratory of the National Institute of Biology is currently the only laboratory with accreditation in the field of plant protection and the only national reference laboratory for bacteria. Laboratory accreditation was also a condition for the partnership of the laboratory in the only reference laboratory of the EU for the field of bacteriology of plant protection in which we were invited. The paper is an example of a laboratory test validation report prepared and available in the public database of the validation reports of the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO).
D.05 Laboratory accreditation
COBISS.SI-ID: 4852047By monitoring the occurrence of common spittlebug, we have found at least 18 xylophagous insects from the families Aprophoridae, Cercopidae, Cocadellidae and Tibicidae in the investigated area of Slovenia. The common spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius), a confirmed vector of bacteria X. fastidiosa, is widely spread throughout the entire research area and also elsewhere in Slovenia. We established the bionomy of the species, occurrence of adults and their numbers over the season. Their relative frequency has been gradually declining since the beginning of the summer, but the last female specimens were found in the second half of October. In addition to their prevalence, their preference for different herbaceous and woody plants was also identified, which is of direct importance for the control of these important carriers of bacterial olive burning in the case of introduction of bacterial blight of olives.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 5014095