EURL for Plant Parasitic Nematodes

The Nematology Unit of ANSES Plant Health Laboratory, Rennes, France, and the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO, Plant science Nematology Group), Merelbeke, Belgium are in charge of the Nematology EURL activities. The aim of this collaboration and our efforts is to assist both the Commission and National Reference Laboratories of each member states, in implementing the relevant European Plant Health Regulations by providing them the knowledge, tools for accurate detection and identification of regulated plant-parasitic nematodes. Both partners have extensive experiences in nematode diagnosis and identification for plant-parasitic nematodes considered important threats by the European Commission. Our activities are conducted in accordance with and under a quality assurance and are accredited according to the EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard. They comply strictly with all the International, European and National regulations and legislations regarding Plant Health.

ANSES TEAM

The Nematology Unit of ANSES Plant Health Laboratory is in charge of the French National Reference Laboratory mandate for plant-parasitic nematodes. The team coordinates a network of several French official laboratories involved in nematode diagnosis and provides expertise, consultation and inter-laboratory proficiency testing at national and international levels in accordance with the EN ISO/IEC 17043. The Nematology Unit is mainly focused on Bursaphelenchus, Meloidogyne, Globodera and Ditylenchus genera, conducting analytical accredited activities and methods for plant-parasitic nematode detection and epidemiological monitoring, including quarantine nematodes. The Nematology Unit is located at INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research) Research Centre in Le Rheu, in a shared scientific environment with the INRA nematology group reinforcing their scientific collaboration and exchange.

ILVO TEAM

The laboratory of Nematology is part of the Diagnostic Centre for Plants of ILVO, which is, together with the Walloon partner CRA-W, the NRL of Belgium. The lab has over 50 years of experience and expertise in nematological research, particularly in detection methodology. Besides diagnostic of plant-parasitic nematodes, the nematology group has several activities in research aimed at the management of nematodes. The lab participates in several national and international projects, mainly dealing with cyst nematodes (Globodera) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne), but also with other common damaging species as well new nematode species threatening agriculture and the green environment.