The Bacteriology, Virology & GMO Detection (BVO) unit is located within a campus specialising in plants that carries out research, development and higher education activities. Part of the Plant Quality & Health federative research structure (QUASAV SFR), it is divided into three teams (Bacteriology, Virology, GMO detection), each with its own area of expertise.

The Bacteriology team has long-standing experience in the detection, characterisation and analysis of bacterial plant pathogens, including for diagnostic purposes. In particular, it works on emerging or regulated quarantine pathogens, such as Xylella fastidiosa, the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, Clavibacter sepedonicus, Erwinia amylovora, Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens.

The Virology team has developed recognised expertise in diagnosing and researching diseases caused by emerging or regulated viruses, viroids or bacteria in phloem (sap-transporting tissue), such as begomovirus, flavescence dorée, etc.). It therefore meets needs for the detection of new emerging agents such as lethal yellowing-type syndrome (LYTS), tomato fruit blotch virus (ToFBV), rose rosette virus (RRV) and tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV).

The GMO detection team works in particular to detect genetically modified organisms and any events that have contributed to their creation. It regularly updates its knowledge by participating in inter-laboratory tests, acquiring new methodologies, and working on research projects aiming to detect products derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs).

The unit has facilities that comply with the most recent containment requirements according to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/829 on protective measures against pests of plants.

Reference activities

The BVO unit has five national reference laboratory mandates these subjects:

• GMOs in maize (vegetative parts) and in potatoes, beets, rice, cotton, wheat and vegetable species (seeds and vegetative parts);
• All bacteria except those covered by other mandates*;
• Phytoplasmas in all matrices;
• All viruses except those covered by other mandates*;
• Viroids in all matrices.

* See the Ministerial Order appointing national reference laboratories in the areas of veterinary public health and plant health (Ministerial Order of 30/03/2022).

The laboratory has a management system based on the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. This system, accredited by the French Accreditation Committee (COFRAC), ensures that the laboratory's expertise is internationally recognised.

Research activities

The unit regularly leads or participates in a number of national (CASDAR), European (Horizon Europe) or international (Euphresco) collaborative projects, along with the supervision of theses within its reference mandates.

The Bacteriology team works on emerging or regulated quarantine pests, such as Xylella fastidiosa, the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, Clavibacter sepedonicus and Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii, for which it has forged numerous partnerships in France, Europe and internationally. It is also involved in numerous research projects linked to epidemiology, anticipation of emerging threats and epidemiological surveillance.

The Virology team mainly conducts research into diseases caused by viruses, viroids or bacteria in phloem, as well as into detection technologies, particularly using high-throughput sequencing. It is also involved in several projects in the fields of epidemiology, anticipation of emerging threats and epidemiological surveillance, as well as developing partnerships.

Lastly, the GMO Detection team participates in projects aiming to improve GMO detection methods and detect products derived from new genomic techniques (NGTs).