1、Defending Irish Crops Against The Threat of Plant Viruses Marta NiedzickaTeagasc Oak ParkNational Tillage Conference 2026Wednesday,29th January|Lyrath Hotel,Kilkennywww.teagasc.ie/tillagecon26 Why are plant viruses a threat to crops?Most plant viruses transmitted by insects Traditionally relied on v
2、ector control through insecticide New challenges:Risk of insecticide resistance Impacts of climate change on vectors Ambitions to reduce insecticide usage in the absence of viable alternativesPhoto:M.Schughart2How can we identify plant viruses?Identifies candidate pathogen causing plant symptoms Tel
3、ls us about viruses present in the environment we did not know about3 Identification is key but difficult to identify from visual symptoms Option 1:Molecular test that target suspected viruses(e.g.BYDV)Option 2:DNA sequencing in an untargeted way to capture unknownsIdentifying specific viruses causi
4、ng symptoms Severe beet yellows outbreaks in Europe since ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments Several viruses responsible Concern expressed by Irish growers Sampled symptomatic plants Rapid and sensitive detection for beet yellows virus(BYV)developedIdentifying specific viruses causing symptoms Sur
5、vey of symptomatic legume plants and DNA sequencing Detected three economically important viruses:Pea Enation Mosaic Virus complex Pea Necrotic Yellow Dwarf Virus Turnip Yellows Virus5The first report of soybean dwarf virus in Ireland Two types of SbDv in our surveys of potential viral reservoirs(ar
6、able margins and pastures)Impacts soybean(40 80%)Potential to impact other legumes Prevalent reservoir white and red clover Important information for current and future legume crops with development of adapted varieties6Photo:M.NiedzickaAdditional viral reserv