The primary goal of the Plant Virology technical platform is to diagnose plant viral diseases in crops using serological, molecular, and biological methods. Employing state-of-the-art technology, the platform utilizes genetic, biochemical, and image analysis methods to explore viral replication, movement, and virus-host interactions. Additionally, efforts are directed towards screening virus-resistant genes in wild relative plants and incorporating these resistance genes from wild relatives into cultivated plants. The platform is actively involved in determining the prevalence of viral diseases, conducting epidemiological studies on pathogen, host, and vector interactions, and undertaking studies to mitigate yield losses caused by significant virus diseases.
Services provided by the platform include: providing assistance on research focusing on the epidemiology of viral diseases affecting economically important crops (mainly horticultural crops) with the goal of developing integrated control strategies based on cultural practices, the use of resistance lines/varieties and/or the use of botanical pesticides to control vectors if necessary; provides diagnostic service to research institutes, industries to assist them in certifying the propagation material as virus free; provide training on state-of-the-art technology in virus disease identification, vectors, virus resistance varieties development and integrated management; offers training to BSc, MSc and PhD students in plant virology and also to agricultural extension services and farmers on different topics related to plant virus. The platform works in partnership with the World Vegetable Center.