In addition, our laboratory is involved in research tasks, mainly focused on plant viruses as direct threats for plant production and fruit quality. The laboratory is a complete diagnostic virology lab that performs testing for a full range of plant viruses.  Techniques used are based on deep sequencing, real-time PCR and genotyping. Our tasks are also focused on the development of diagnosis methods and their application to epidemiology with the purpose to establish or improve strategies for prevention or control. Some of these methods have been included in the official protocols of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), such as those for diagnosis of Plum pox virus (also IPPC-FAO protocol) and Citrus tristeza virus. Five main aspects could be highlighted: i) analysis by deep sequencing, ii) design of primers and probes for molecular diagnostic methods, iii) design and/or improvement of techniques and protocols to detect and identify pathogenic agents in plant material or insects vectors, iv) real-time PCR and isothermal amplifications and v) application of techniques for the control of quarantine diseases with economic importance.

In the following pages you will find how to estimate and calculate diagnostic parameters to evaluate detection methods and communications about new detections, diagnostic methods, symptoms of diseases etc