Projektnummer: 26.30.16.05.05_Facing the Heat
Der Hitze trotzen: Die Auswirkungen steigender Temperaturen auf das Überleben von Nematoden
Root-knot nematodes, especially Meloidogyne enterolobii and M. incognita, pose an increasing threat to Swiss agriculture due to their broad host range, long asymptomatic periods, and adaptability to climate change. This project will assess their risk to Swiss crop production by studying temperature requirements, reproductive capacity, and overwintering potential in local soils. A climate-driven risk analysis using CLIMEX modeling will predict establishment and spread under current and future scenarios. In parallel, we will evaluate management strategies, including fallows, non-host crops, and nematicides, with emphasis on sustainable practices. The project aligns with the Swiss Crop Protection Strategy 2035, promoting integrated pest management and climate-resilient farming. Outcomes will provide growers and plant health authorities (EPSD, APSD, cantonal advisors) with concrete recommendations for containment and mitigation. Collaboration with the EURL for Plant Parasitic Nematodes and the EPPO Panel on Diagnostics in Nematology will ensure results strengthen both Swiss and European plant health strategies, closing key knowledge gaps and reinforcing crop biosecurity and resilience.
