Researchers from POnTE Project contribute to the EuroXanth Core Group Meeting in Catania

Core Group Meeting of the EuroXanth COST Action CA16107 has been organised at the Università degli Studi di CataniaDipartimento di Agricoltura e Ambiente, in Sicily, Italy, on February 25-27, 2019. is approaching its midterm in April 2019. In order to plan the second half of this COST Action, dedicated to “Integrating science on Xanthomonadaceae for integrated plant disease management in Europe”, key persons from other multi-national initiatives in this field have been invited, in addition to the Core Group Members, to foster existing networks and create new links with the other European initiatives.

Among the 21 participants from 14 countries, the meeting has welcomed as representative of the POnTE Consortium Dr Marie-Agnès Jacques (INRA, France), Dr Aleksa Obradovic (UB-FA, Serbia), who were already members of the Core Group, Dr Maria Saponari (CNR-IPSP, Italy) and Dr Massimiliano Morelli (CNR-IPSP, Italy).

Dr Obradovic had the chance to present recent achievements of POnTE research, while Dr Saponari presented an overview on the other two projects that she coordinates: XF-ACTORS and EUPHRESCOHarmonized protocol for monitoring and detection of Xylella fastidiosa in its host plants and its vectors (PROMODE)”. Dr Morelli was asked to offer an opinion from the point of view of Next Generation Scientists and discuss strategies to better encourage Early Career Investigators to take leading positions.

During the course of the programme, Dr Maroun El Moujabber (CIHEAM, IAMB, Italy) presented the participants and the aims of the Project CURE-XFCapacity Building and Raising Awareness in Europe and in Third Countries to Cope with Xylella fastidiosa”, he is coordinating.