Project description

The project "Olfactory detection of plant pathogens in permanent fruit crops (PATDOG)" investigated the ability of dogs to recognise plant pathogens such as Erwinia amylovora (the causative agent of fire blight in pome fruit) and Cryphonectria parasitica (the causative agent of chestnut blight in sweet chestnuts) in orchards. The aim of the project was to enable early diagnosis and control of these diseases in order to minimise economic damage. As part of the project, dogs from an animal shelter as well as already trained sniffer dogs were trained and tested for their ability to recognise plant pathogens. During the training phase, the Detection Dog Training System (DDTS) was used to condition the dogs to the odours of the pathogens. Their ability to differentiate between target and various distraction odours was tested both with the DDTS and on the line-up. In addition, infected plants were also used in further training steps.

Both under controlled test conditions and in the field, the dogs showed a high degree of accuracy in recognising the test pathogens. They were able to identify cultures of E. amylovora and C. parasitica and thus infected plants with an accuracy of 84 % to 100 %, regardless of whether the plants were symptomatic or not. The investigation of possible carry-over of the pathogens did not reveal any evidence of contamination of the dogs. In addition, the dogs were trained to recognise odours directly from infected plants as well as from air sucked in around the plants. Suction in particular is a non-invasive method that enables rapid screening of large tree populations.

The project also developed a rough training concept and a strategy for the practical use of the dogs in orchards. These include both the systematic screening of rows of trees, taking into account the wind direction, and the use of substitute odours for training purposes. The requirements for certification of the plant protection dog teams were also developed as part of the project. This will ensure that the dogs and their handlers have the necessary skills to perform high-quality work in the field.

Benefits of the project

The results of the PATDOG project show that sniffer dogs can be a valuable addition to existing plant health measures. They offer a fast, sensitive and non-invasive way of detecting plant diseases at an early stage and thus preventing their spread or containing them at an early stage.