Co-ordination of Research on genetic Resistance to Plant Pathogenic Viruses and their vectors in European Crops A Co-ordination Action Funded by the EC – FP6 Food Quality and Safety Priority Area Contract No: FOOD-CT Start: 1st February 2005 web

Plant viruses and their vectors cause serious economic losses, limit European crop production, and have negative effects on the quality and safety of food. The use of genetic resistance is one of the best ways to control plant viruses/vectors.

ResistVir aims to improve co- ordination of research on genetic resistance to plant pathogenic viruses/vectors, in European crops. This will ultimately result in new sources and mechanisms of sustainable resistance to plant viruses/ vectors, being used in conventional and GM crops, and in decreased pesticide usage.

The specific objectives are to: Assemble information on the latest European and worldwide progress towards using resistance to control plant viruses/vectors. Co-ordinate cutting- edge European research. Identify barriers to the development and use of new resistant varieties.

Encourage harmonization of national and European standards, legislation, ethical issues, codes of practice and regulations related to GM and traditionally- bred crops for control of plant pathogenic viruses/vectors. Develop a framework of suggested guidelines and recommendations of best practice. Provide an on-line European database, linked to existing web sites and database.

Disseminate the project's key findings to end-user. Provide a framework to encourage complementary research programmes across the ERA. Promote exchange of European researchers. Promote collaboration among European stakeholders.

The main outputs will lead to: Better co-ordinated European research: less duplication of effort, more rapid and efficient technology transfer. Increased attention of the problems faced by plant breeders, geneticists, consultants and growers. Improved suggested guidelines and recommendations for consultants, crop producers and policymakers.

Work Package 1: Project Management & further development. Work Package 2: Survey and database of European resources & centers of activities. Work Package 3: Co-ordination of research on problems caused by viruses and vectors and their methods of control. A research consortium is created with 49 members from 25 European countries. All members are working in 7 WP.

Work Package 4: Analysis of standards, legislation, ethical issues, codes of practice, regulations and intellectual property issues. Work Package 5: Innovations in virus resistance: Improvement of the genetic control of Viruses and Vectors.

Work Package 6: International Conference on "Use of genetic resistance as a tool to control plant pathogenic viruses / vectors“. Work Package 7: Dissemination and technology transfer.

Two web sites have been created for ResistVir. The main web site and the second for the database of current European research activities These database informs of the latest developments related to the control of plant pathogenic viruses and their vectors.

ResistVir will contribute to improve the cooperation between European researchers and between research organizations and enterprises.