Plant disease detection: a week of bioinformatics training
From May 12 to 16, 2025, the Integrated and Urban Phytopathology Laboratory, under the supervision of Prof. Sébastien Massart, organized a week of training in bioinformatics analysis for pathogen detection. Twenty scientists from all over Europe took part in this training week, which meets the need for knowledge of new technologies in this field.
Organized for the first time in 2017, this training project is based on collaboration between EPPO (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization) and the Integrated and Urban Plant Pathology Laboratory.
Initially aimed at university researchers, the 2025 edition also targeted diagnosticians.
"EPPO had surveyed all its member laboratories about their training needs in these technologies, and a very great need emerged. So we launched the initiative with EPPO, which facilitated the dissemination of information through its network of contacts", explains Prof. Sébastien Massart.
Understanding, detecting, interpreting
In fact, this week of training meets a need for training in the use of high-throughput genome sequencing technologies for diagnosing plant diseases. These technologies were used extensively for SARS-Cov-2 during the pandemic, and have long been used in research to detect plant diseases. Prof. Sébastien Massart's team has always been at the forefront of these technologies and their dissemination in the field of plant pathology. As for diagnostic laboratories, they are now considering using these technologies.
"These new technologies require bioinformatics skills that most scientists (biologists and plant pathologists) don't have. This training course therefore aims to give participants the knowledge and skills to implement these new technologies reliably in their laboratories."
Trained by Lavena Van Cranenbroeck, Serkan Onder, Olivier Parisis (GxABT-ULiege) and François Maclot (INRAE), this week's training also provided an opportunity for participants to discover a bit of Belgian culinary culture... and the treasures of Gembloux Abbey!
