The problem

The introduction of non-indigenous pests and pathogens of plants and plant products into the European Union (EU) can severely impact cross-border trade. The current methods used to detect quarantine organisms have several drawbacks, such as being limited to certain pathogens and being slow or needing bulky equipment. There is a need for a generic, fast and portable tool to detect and identify quarantine pests and pathogens at points of entry.

Overview:

PORT CHECK will deliver tools and procedures for the inspection of plant material at points of entry, using the latest molecular diagnostics technology.

The project will:

• Develop sampling strategies and techniques for extracting nucleic acid from quarantine organisms
• Develop and evaluate real-time and portable PCR assays for a range of key quarantine organisms, including Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of Sudden Oak Death, and Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pinewood nematode)
• Deliver easy-to-use diagnostics technology to end-users and evaluate its use in practice

Contribution to policy development:

PORT CHECK will:

• Directly support the implementation of Directive 2000/29/EC
• It will do this by providing improved measures to prevent non-indigenous organisms harmful to plants or plant products being introduced into the EU
• Improve the efficiency of inspection services, thereby reducing the risk arising from introduced pests and pathogens that potentially threaten policy developments in sustainable agriculture

Project deliverables

• Sampling protocols for key quarantine organisms – March 2006
• Delivery of nucleic acid extraction device – March 2006
• Molecular diagnostics assays for key quarantine organisms – March 2006
• Final protocols for diagnostics kit – March 2007

Dissemination

• Website – June 2004
• Publications in scientific and popular press – June 2004
• Posters, leaflets and brochures – June 2004
• Progress and final reports – March 2005, March 2006, March 2007
• Molecular diagnostics protocol booklet – March 2006

Technical information

Project acronym: PORT CHECK
Project’s official full title: Development of generic ‘on site’ molecular diagnostics for EU quarantine pests and pathogens
Research priority: Tools and assessment methods for sustainable agriculture and forestry management
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 502348
Start date: 01/03/2004
Kick off meeting: March 2004
Completion date: 28/02/2007
European Commission scientific officer: Daniele Tissot (Daniele.Tissot@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: Central Science Laboratory
Abbreviated name: CSL
Address: Sand Hutton
York
YO41 1LZ
Country: UK
Tel: +44 1904 462000
Fax: +44 1904 462111
Website: http://www.csl.gov.uk/

Partners

Name: Plant Research International
Abbreviated name: PRI
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Unite Sante Vegetale et Environnement
Abbreviated name: INRA
Country: France

Name: Plant Protection Service
Abbreviated name: PD
Country: The Netherlands

Name: DNA Research Innovations Ltd.
Abbreviated name: DRI
Country: UK

Name: BIOREBA AG
Abbreviated name: BIOREBA
Country: Switzerland

Name: Cepheid Europe s.a.
Abbreviated name: Cepheid Europe
Country: France

Name: Department of Biology, University of Evora
Abbreviated name: UE
Country: Portugal

Name: Instituts für Forstschutz, Bundesamt & Forschungszentrum für Wald
Abbreviated name: BFW
Country: Austria

Name: Unité de Phytopathologie, Unité des Ressources phytogénétiques
Abbreviated name: CRAGx-DLbRp
Country: Belgium

Name: Agricultural Research Centre – Ghent
Abbreviated name: CLO-DGB
Country: Belgium

Name: Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Abbreviated name: DIAS
Country: Denmark

Name: Danish Plant Directorate
Abbreviated name: PDIR
Country: Denmark

Name: Kasvintuotannon Tarkastuskeskus (Plant Protection Inspection Centre)
Abbreviated name: KTTK
Country: Finland

Name: Ministère de l'Agriculture - DRAF /SRPV Bretagne
Abbreviated name: LNPV Nematologie
Country: France 

Name: Pflanzenschutzamt Hannover
Abbreviated name: Pflanzenschutzamt Hannover
Country: Germany

Name: Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft
Abbreviated name: BBA
Country: Germany

Name: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Abbreviated name: AUTH
Country: Greece

Name: Istituto Di Virologia Vegetale
Abbreviated name: CNR-IVV
Country: Italy

Name: Settore Fitosanitario – Regione Piemonte
Abbreviated name: SFR-RP
Country: Italy

Name: Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
Abbreviated name: UTAD
Country: Portugal

Name: University of Salamanca
Abbreviated name: USAL
Country: Spain

Name: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abbreviated name: SLU
Country: Sweden

Name: Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate
Abbreviated name: PHSI
Country: UK

Name: Forest Research
Abbreviated name: FR
Country: UK

Name: Lithuanian Plant Protection Service
Abbreviated name: VAAT
Country: Lithuania

Name: Plant Health Department
Abbreviated name: Plant Health Department
Country: Malta

Name: Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdansk
Abbreviated name: IFB
Country: Poland

Name: Phytosanitary Inspection Service
Abbreviated name: IAFHF-PIS
Country: Slovenia

Name: National Institute of Biology
Abbreviated name: NIB
Country: Slovenia

Name: Plant Protection Section, Department of Agriculture
Abbreviated name: Department of Agriculture
Country: Cyprus

Name: The Agricultural Research Institute
Abbreviated name: ARI
Country: Cyprus

Name: L'Agence fédérale pour la Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire
Abbreviated name: FASFC
Country: Belgium

Name: Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias
Abbreviated name: IVIA
Country: Spain

Name: Divisão de Identificação e de Bioecologia de Patogéneos
Abbreviated name: DGPC
Country: Portugal

Name: Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
Abbreviated name: SASA
Country: UK

Name: Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
Abbreviated name: SEERAD
Country: UK

Name: Takara Bio Europe S.A.
Abbreviated name: TAKARA BIO Europe
Country: France