IUFRO conference on plant health features showcases of FORSAID activities

The Greek capital of Athens was the site of the conference “Will it wilt? From bark to xylem an invasion away” between 18 and 21 May 2026. Two working parties of the International Union of Forest Research (IUFRO), "Vascular Wilt Diseases" and “Pine Wilt Disease”, were the organisers behind the event, an occasion which brought together approximately 80 researchers from four continents. The agenda allowed a global community that had previously lacked the opportunity to exchange insights and views in person to hold meaningful discussions under the theme “Interconnecting Forests, Science and People”.

Representing the FORSAID project at the conference were consortium members Alberto Santini (CNR) and Christelle Robinet (INRAE). Both their institutions actively contributed to proceedings with a number of presentations, several of which highlighted the project and its research activities (as laid out below).

On the part of CNR (and specifically its Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP)):

  • Mr. Santini talked about the possible role of Xylotrechus stebbingi as a vector of pest fungi. The work was in collaboration with Alain Roques and Marie-Anne Auger-Rozenberg (INRAE Orléans) and was facilitated by the use of multilure attractants.

  • Francesco Pecori gave a speech on a study related to the persistence of Ceratocystis platani on metal tools by classic and RNA-based methods. This research effort not only provided practical knowledge on preventing infections, but is also now serving as a basis for eDNA analysis to detect vital propagula of the pathogen.

  • Hari Berto presented the first results of his studies on the use of hyperspectral sensors carried by Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in the early detection of Ceratocystis platani in plane trees. Among all the information collected via this method, he emphasised on the indicators that show the most promise in identifying stress conditions before the onset of visible symptoms.

Turning to INRAE:

  • Ms. Robinet led a talk about the tests of novel generic lures conducted in France and in China to detect non-native cerambycid species, notably comparing results in black and green traps.

  • She also presented a poster showing that tree selective cutting is more cost-effective than clear cutting to control Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in the context of homogeneous pine forests. More on the topic can be found in FORSAID’s first policy brief.

  • Also in relation to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, she presented results related to modelling the dispersal of the species’ insect vector in a heterogeneous landscape.

More on the conference and its forthcoming book of abstracts can be found on the official website of the event. Further details of FORSAID’s research actions and priorities are accessible here.