QBOL - Barcoding as a new tool for identification of quarantine nematodes and their close relatives

Identification of quarantine plant pests needs to be fast and accurate to enable timely plant protection measures. False diagnostics could cause serious financial losses for trade and producers. Genetically based diagnostics is a reliable alternative to the classical identification generally based on morphological features requiring expert taxonomic skills. Genetic diagnostics through the use of DNA-barcodes, stretches of DNA that contain taxonspecific information, can be performed by any skilled lab-worker. The European Union 7th Framework project QBOL: “Development of a new diagnostic tool using DNA barcoding to identify quarantine organisms in support of plant health” aims to establish DNA-barcodes for all European quarantine organisms and their close relatives, including plant parasitic nematodes. For quarantine nematodes, several gene regions such as COI, COII, SSU, LSU and RNA polymerase subunit II are being evaluated for their barcoding potential. The results and protocols will be made available through a database, Q-bank, freely accessible to all interested users. For each group of quarantine organisms, a consortium of curators will ensure that data incorporated into Q-bank are confirmed for correctness and linked to specimen in reference collections