The cucurbits and lettuce viromes

Project description

High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) technologies allow in a short period of time the discovery of a wide range of new plant viruses, helping researchers to get a better insight into the depth of the virosphere and permitting a better understanding of the plant virus epidemiology, ecology and evolution.

In this project, HTS based approaches will be used to describe and characterize the viromes of lettuce and melon crops. In the case of lettuce, the viromes under 2 different cropping systems (ecological vs conventional) will be compared. In the case of melon, the role of a widespread cucurbit weed (Echbalium elaterium) in the epidemiology of melon viruses will be analyzed through comparison of the E. elaterium and melon viromes. Additionally, the virome of melon in geographical areas connected to the EU (i.e. Morocco) will also be studied. In a later stage, specific detection techniques for viruses of anticipated importance will be developed based on the results obtained to allow the detection of new isolates and/or new viruses.

---

Project goals

1) Comparing the viromes of lettuce under 2 different cropping systems (ecological vs convencional).

2) Assessing the role of cucurbit weed (Echbalium elaterium) in the epidemiology of melon viruses.

3) Analyzing the virome of melon in geographical areas connected to the EU.

4) Developing detection techniques in case new viruses were identified