![]() ![]() ![]() The ability to treat seed with suitable disinfectants would mean a huge saving in money for seed companies due to current losses of contaminated seed and also provide extra protection for the EU against disease. Novel detection and diagnostic technologies were evaluated for their future role in seed testing - these included Luminex multiplex technology and Next and third generation sequencing technologies. The project also investigated the use of non-destructive methods for testing seed - these methods will allow the industry to save money currently wasted in destroyed seed. ![]() These and other methods were validated within the project so that they can be immediately used by the Inspection Laboratories at the end of the project. The development of generic methods for seed testing will make testing quicker, cheaper and more accurate. Potential users such as NPPOs, inspection services, and industry can implement these protocols for reliable detection of these quarantine and quality pathogens. 13 protocols were successfully validated and will be made available for use by stakeholders through inclusion in ISTA and EPPO protocols, by publication in peer-reviewed journals, publication on the TESTA website or TESTA-partner website, publication of instruction videos, presentations at national and international meetings, such as ISTA-meeting, EPPO/TESTA-meeting and ISHI-Veg meetings, and protocols are available upon request. ![]() TESTA has contributed to this awareness through dissemination of the work plans, teaching a validation course, presentations at meetings for different groups of stakeholders, and publication of the validation reports. Stricter regulations and quality requirements have resulted in increasing knowledge of and requirements for validation studies. The awareness of the need for validation of protocols has increased rapidly over the last few years. The development of validated and harmonised methods and tools for early detection is key to treatment and control. The sampling approaches will be assessed by ISTA and made available to the National Plant Health services and the industry. The project developed statistical approaches to improve the accuracy of seed sampling, especially for small lots or lots where the level of inoculum is likely to be low and the seed lots are likely to be large. However, testing methods rely on the robustness of sampling approaches. Testing seed routinely is an important approach to maintaining seed health and to preventing the introduction of new pests and diseases and the unchecked spread of indigenous diseases and pests. The revision of the Annotated List of Seed-borne Diseases will provide an invaluable resource for all regulators, seed producers and laboratories. Methods developed in the project will also provide protocols which can be used in future seed transmission studies. This work will add to the scientific literature underpinning seed health decisions. The project developed novel approaches to assessing the risk of seed transmission by determining the relevant threshold inoculum levels and routes for infection for a range of important pathogens and pests. Regulatory and quality controls are in place to reduce the risk of this but these must be supported by up-to-date underpinning methodologies for risk assessment, sampling and detection of pests and pathogens in seed lots and disinfection treatments. Plant seed is produced and traded across the globe and can carry and spread diseases and pests very efficiently to key production areas. High quality seed is the foundation of high quality crops producing high yields and therefore maximising food and feed production. It is therefore crucial to maximise the efficiency of production from the land that is suitable for agriculture and horticulture. Executive Summary: An increasing world population is putting pressure on food supplies and on the environment. ![]()
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