World Plant Health Day

Plant health is an issue that concerns us all, as it is directly linked to the economy, the sustainability of ecosystems, and human and animal health. Today, the excessive use of pesticides remains a reality, although this practice has been progressively reduced and replaced by more sustainable and rational methods. Plant health depends on various factors, notably weather conditions and preventive and/or cultural practices. These practices must be integrated into a comprehensive system that ensures plants are in the best possible conditions for development, including suitable soil, the correct varieties/species for the growing site, and agronomic practices adapted to each situation. It is essential to invest in technical and scientific knowledge, combining prevention methods, frequent monitoring and appropriate intervention for each situation. Only in this way will it be possible to achieve healthy plants, reduce environmental impact and ensure the sustainability of agricultural holdings, as well as better human and animal health.

The Plant Pathology Laboratory of the Department of Agronomy, CITAB, has been working in accordance with the principles outlined above. In recent years, the research carried out has focused heavily on the use of plant defence inducers (chemical and physical) to reduce the use of pesticides. These studies have been conducted from a holistic perspective, examining the effect at both the disease/pathogen level and at the plant level—genetically, physiologically and molecularly—thus achieving an integrated understanding of the effect of these compounds. Studies have also been carried out on the effect of using beneficial microorganisms in the control of plant diseases. This work has been carried out in the laboratory and subsequently in the field in trials with companies and producers. The Plant Pathology Laboratory, as a result of the partnership between UTAD and PORVID, has also been carrying out virus diagnosis in vines as part of the “Conservation and Selection of Old Vine Varieties” and “Conservation and Improvement of Plant Genetic Resources” projects. The detection and diagnosis of diseases and support for farmers and farmers’ associations are also an important part of this laboratory’s ongoing work.