THE INSTITUTE

The Laboratory of Mycology carries out research on all aspects of fungal plant diseases aiming to their timely diagnosis and the development of effective and environmentally sound strategies for their management. It operates as the official Laboratory on Plant Health and Plant Protection of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food and provides services, scientific and technical support, education and training on matters related to diagnosis of fungal diseases, plant health and plant protection

• Diagnosis of fungal plant diseases and prescription of management strategies for their control within an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach

• Conducting Pest Risk Analyses (PRAs) for harmful organisms to inform and support decisions on phytosanitary legislation in order to protect plant health and ensure food security at national, EU and international level. Participation in the Panel on Plant Health of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

• Development of new quantitative and qualitative schemes for conducting Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for harmful organisms. Evaluation of risk reduction options in support of the national, EU and international legislation

• Development of surveillance, monitoring and sampling strategies for quarantine fungal pathogens to be used by the phytosanitary inspectors and growers requiring plant health certificates

• Laboratory testing for the detection of the potential presence of quarantine fungi on crops, performed as part of the official surveys for the maintenance of EU protected zones

• Development and implementation of laboratory methods for fast and reliable detection and identification of plant pathogenic fungi with emphasis on quarantine fungi at national, EU and EPPO level. Development of international diagnostic protocols for harmful organisms (FAO International Plant Protection Convention). Participation in ring tests at EU and international level for the detection and identification of quarantine fungi  

• Research on biology, population dynamics, seasonal and diurnal periodicity of spore dispersal of plant pathogenic fungi

• Research on the epidemiology of fungal diseases and on the spatial and temporal disease gradients. Modelling of epidemics

• Development and implementation of timely, effective and environmentally sound IPM strategies

• Laboratory phytosanitary testing of imported plant and plant products for the detection of quarantine fungal pathogens, according to the national and EU legislation. Phytosanitary certification of locally produced plants and plant products for international trade

• Scientific consultancy service to the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Administrative Regional Units on matters related to plant health and plant protection

• Theoretical seminars and practical training for agronomists and phytosanitary inspectors of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Administrative Regional Units on aspects related to inspection and sampling of consignments, diagnosis of fungal diseases, detection and identification of quarantine fungi

• Training of students from Universities and Technological Educational Institutions on methods and techniques for the diagnosis of fungal diseases, isolation and identification of fungi. Supervision of students during the preparation of their dissertation

• Enrichment and maintenance of the Laboratory’s collection of plant pathogenic fungi, (BPIC). The collection is linked to the Microbial Information Network in Europe (MINE). Supply of pure cultures of fungal strains for scientific purposes [Contact person: D. Tsirogiannis or S. Migardou]

Aikaterini-Eleni Vichou, MSc, Agronomist

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