The Tropical Pests and Pathogens (RAPT) unit is located within the technology platform of the 3P plant protection unit, which is the largest overseas site of the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the only site specialising in plant health and crop protection. The site of the 3P unit also hosts research teams from CIRAD and the University of Reunion Island, within the Plant Communities and Biological Invaders in Tropical Environments (PVBMT) joint research unit (UMR).

Reference activities

The RAPT unit has two National Reference Laboratory (NRL) mandates , in bacteriology and virology, with a focus on tropical plant sectors in overseas France.

Methodological work constitutes its main activity, focusing primarily on bananas, citrus fruit, pineapples, tropical tubers (sweet potato, manioc, yam, taro) and rice. The aim is to meet the health requirements set out in the legislation covering the four plant protection areas of overseas France: the French Caribbean, French Guiana, Mayotte and Reunion Island, as well as other overseas territories.

Research activities

As part of the Diagnosis and epidemiology of tropical plants (DiagEpiTrop) research agreement signed with the PVBMT joint research unit, the unit carries out research activities focusing on three themes:

• Knowledge of emerging pathogen populations;
• Development of innovative diagnostic methods;
• International health monitoring.

This partnership has given rise to several collaborative theses, dealing with pests and major issues for plant health in overseas France, in particular bacterial diseases caused by the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri pv citri, and citrus greening disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The epidemiological approaches used in this work involve collaboration with the epidemiological surveillance platform for plant health (ESV).