Welcome to Bacterial Plant Diseases UK
There is growing concern about potential and existing threats to UK plant (including tree) health and biosecurity from the wider spread and more common occurrence of both emerging and indigenous bacterial diseases. Contributory factors include environmental change and greater movement of potentially contaminated plants or plant materials in trade. These pathogens (and their invertebrate vectors) threaten crop production, forestry, commercial and amenity horticulture, as well as woodlands and broader biodiversity within the wider environment. They have the potential to cause widespread and severe economic, environmental and social impacts on landscapes and ecosystems, both rural and urban.
Bacterial phytopathogens are diverse and cause many types of diseases. Their transmission may be airborne, soil-borne or via invertebrate vectors. When introduced to new areas their spread is unpredictable, but often highly invasive. They are difficult to control with chemicals and, unlike many other plant pathogens, frequently have a large number of potential hosts.
BBSRC, NERC, Defra and the Scottish Government obtained funding from the Strategic Priorities Fund to support nine diverse and exciting high quality projects that address bacterial threats.
This is an informational hub about each these projects, showing the team members, their outreach activities, the scientific protocols that they are employing and most importantly where their data can be accessed.
Collaboration is the theme that passes through each of these projects so if you or your organisation want to be involved then please contact the Coordination Team.
Bacterial phytopathogens are diverse and cause many types of diseases. Their transmission may be airborne, soil-borne or via invertebrate vectors. When introduced to new areas their spread is unpredictable, but often highly invasive. They are difficult to control with chemicals and, unlike many other plant pathogens, frequently have a large number of potential hosts.
BBSRC, NERC, Defra and the Scottish Government obtained funding from the Strategic Priorities Fund to support nine diverse and exciting high quality projects that address bacterial threats.
This is an informational hub about each these projects, showing the team members, their outreach activities, the scientific protocols that they are employing and most importantly where their data can be accessed.
Collaboration is the theme that passes through each of these projects so if you or your organisation want to be involved then please contact the Coordination Team.
Latest BPD news
- February 23rd 2021: Launch of animation to introduce nine bacterial plant disease projects (see YouTube link below). This was generated in collaboration with SciAni. Please contact Geraint Parry if you would like a copy of the video.
- January 5th 2021: Schedule released for an external seminar series focused on Xylella virtually hosted by the University of California, Berkerley. Full details and sign up information can be found here.
- December 7th 2020: Three posts at the University of Birmingham to work on bacterial diseases in trees. This work is associated with the Pseudomonas-Prunus project and is led by Professor Rob Jackson. Project details here.
- September 7th 2020: Please download a flyer that introduces the BPD programme.
- July 15th 2020: UKRI announce funded projects in Phase II of Bacterial Plant Disease programme (URL)
- January 5th 2021: Schedule released for an external seminar series focused on Xylella virtually hosted by the University of California, Berkerley. Full details and sign up information can be found here.
- December 7th 2020: Three posts at the University of Birmingham to work on bacterial diseases in trees. This work is associated with the Pseudomonas-Prunus project and is led by Professor Rob Jackson. Project details here.
- September 7th 2020: Please download a flyer that introduces the BPD programme.
- July 15th 2020: UKRI announce funded projects in Phase II of Bacterial Plant Disease programme (URL)
Bacterial Plant Disease Projects
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Surveillance and response capacity for Xylella fastidiosa
Description: The long-term objective of the project is to improve our understanding of how plants respond to infection with insect-transmitted plant pathogens and how symptoms develop. CALIBER
Benign infections or damaging epidemics: the influence of biology, the environment and agricultural practice on vector-borne phytobacteria
Description: Understand the biology and societal impact of the insect vectors of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum.
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BAC-STOP: Advancement of control and knowledge to save threatened oak and protect them for future generations
Description: Investigate the microbial and vector biology as well as the community impact of Acute Oak Decline
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Workshops and Events
The Coordination Team will be organising both wet-lab and dry-lab training workshops on topics relevant for the BPD project. In addition we will organise conferences that bring together project participants. We hope these will be possible after the COVID crisis has reached a new phase in 2021.
