Porto scientists develop early detection tools for pear disease

Researchers from the University of Porto's Faculty of Sciences and LAQV-REQUIMTE are developing molecular diagnostic tools to detect diseases in Rocha pear orchards in Portugal's Oeste region before symptoms become visible. Next year they will install spore capture devices at canopy height on pear trees in Torres Vedras, focusing on a fungus causing brown spot and a bacterium causing fire blight. The work, part of the EU-funded BiomeHealth project with 1.5 million euros from Horizon Europe, aims to reduce pesticide use and economic losses for growers. The team plans to eventually extend the research to other fruit trees and regions across Portugal.