Protecting tomatoes and cucurbits from viral diseases

The VIRTIGATION project develops bio-based solutions to combat emerging viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits across Europe and the Mediterranean. It targets begomovirus ToLCNDV and tobamovirus ToBRFV, transmitted by whiteflies and mechanically, respectively. In collaboration with partners in Morocco, Israel, and India, the project advances sanitation protocols using extreme pH solutions to inactivate ToBRFV, as published in *Plant and Soil*. Research by LIST shows higher temperatures increase ToLCNDV transmission efficiency by *Bemisia tabaci*. Findings are supported by visual data on infected plants and vectors. Funded under Horizon 2020 (grant No 101000570).