Enhancement of research capacity to control and manage bacterial plant diseases in Eastern Africa

project summary

Project LIFE- 731:

The primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of partner institutions in Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique to conduct research on control and management of bacterial diseases of plants and seeds and to disseminate research findings for the benefit of primary producers. Bacterial plant diseases are causing significant losses in tropical agriculture due to optimal conditions for disease spread and lack of infrastructure to combat the pathogens. Important examples are: (1) the devastating bacterial disease, Banana Xanthomonas Wilt, threatening small-holder farmers in Uganda and currently spreading into Tanzania and a potential threat to neighbouring countries; (2) lack of quick and accurate diagnostic tools for plant bacterial diseases; (3) need of efficient/alternative control measures rather than chemicals alone to manage such diseases; and (4) taking into account the nature of local production systems for the dissemination of research findings. The need for a regional/national capacity to develop and to critically review and adapt control strategies for bacterial plant diseases is required. The present project reflects those needs and included partner countries of Eastern Africa (Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique) which in collaboration with Danish scientists worked together finding a solution to such problems. In order to provide a broad spectrum of competences, the project involves four work packages covering the spectrum of development of accurate molecular-based diagnostic tools and safe sampling procedures that could be adopted locally or across-countries and control measures, e.g., use of botanicals and, physical seed treatments, evaluation of varieties for disease resistance. Three important target crops were selected each representing a specialized production system: banana, tomato and cabbage. All three crops are susceptible to bacterial diseases caused by the genus Xanthomonas, which formed the focal area of research of the project.