The forest is an essential strategic resource for a green economy. About 10 million hectares of pine forest are at risk from resinous pine canker (CRP), an infection caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum. Integrated forest disease management is not a simple path but rather a set of complementary measures, including but rather a set of complementary measures, including the development of disease-resistant forest including the development of disease-resistant forest propagation material. This proposal is supported by the TEAM’s EXPERIENCE in the results (physiological and molecular analysis) and the expertise in CRP acquired in the URGENTpine project (PTDC/AGR-FOR/2768/2014) where several pine species with different levels of susceptibility to CRP were used to explore the mechanisms that explain host resistance/susceptibility. We have advanced knowledge in the plant’s complex immune system and identified bacteria unique to the resistant phenotype. We are in a position to move forward to applied actions. There are no 100% effective measures to control the disease, those that exist are very limited by the legislation that regulates the use of agrochemicals, a reality that the nurseryman has to deal with on a daily basis. Strategies that increase host resistance seem to be the most effective and ecological phytosanitary measures. The implementation of this PoC takes us from a TRL project of 2 to a proposal where we aim to achieve TRL 4 with potential for developing a patent.
The OBJECTIVE of URGENTpine2.0 is to contribute to a RESILIENT FOREST by inducing resistance (IR) in pine plants using ecological and cost-effective strategies. This will allow a sustainable production of nursery plants by increasing their innate defense capacity (via chemical induction and/or microbiome manipulation). We aim to increase the overall quality of the plant in the greenhouse not only in terms of growth but also its defenses, a trait that we hope when maintained in the field will increase the success of reforestation. The work plan is based on an integrated approach proposing SCIENTIFIC-BASED SOLUTIONS in dialogue with a FOREST STAKEHOLDER (Melo & Cancela, Viveiros florestais Lda). All actions will be developed in a shared way to achieve the project’s objectives and enhance its operationalization in real operational systems (greenhouse). This concept: “from idea to application” is crucial for scientific results to reach stakeholders and society. The team is multidisciplinary and, together with the consultant, internationally recognized for its work in CRP. The theme is RELEVANT given the economic importance of pine forests in Europe and Portugal, particularly for the Central region of Portugal since the focus will be on the Pinus pinaster. It is aligned with the objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda (SDG 15 and 13) and with the national policies Portugal 2030, the PRR and the PRPI.