POMATO was represented at the 8th International Bacterial Wilt Symposium (IBWS), held in Wageningen, the Netherlands, from 22 to 26 March 2026. The symposium brought together researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers working on Ralstonia solanacearum and related bacterial wilt diseases, creating an important space for scientific exchange on pathogen genomics, host resistance, plant-microbe interactions, ecology, epidemiology, diagnostics, prevention, and control.
Through poster presentations and discussions, the symposium offered a valuable opportunity to showcase POMATO’s work, strengthen collaboration with the international research community, and raise awareness of the project among key stakeholders.
A key contribution came from Antonio León (USFQ), who presented the poster “Ralstonia solanacearum identification in Ecuador: Questioning methodology and incidence.” His presentation focused on the challenges of detecting infective Ralstonia solanacearum strains in potato, tomato, and banana crops in Ecuador. It also critically examined previously used bacterial isolation methodologies, as well as the environmental and microbiological factors that may complicate pathogen detection in samples collected across the country.
By sharing these findings at IBWS, Antonio León helped bring a South American perspective to the discussion, particularly in relation to pathogen surveillance in Ecuador and across Latin America. The presentation also created an opportunity to exchange knowledge with experts from Europe and Latin America, raising awareness of these detection challenges and generating constructive feedback to support the improvement of current protocols.
POMATO was also presented by Verna Katrin B. Cola (WUR), who introduced the project and its proposed methodology for identifying omics signatures of disease from microbiome data. Her poster was displayed throughout the symposium, formally presented during a poster session, and shared with participants from research, industry, technology, and policy communities. It also helped direct visitors to the POMATO website through a QR code, increasing the project’s visibility and encouraging further engagement.
Together, these contributions highlighted both the scientific depth and collaborative nature of the POMATO project. Participation in IBWS 2026 not only supported dissemination activities, but also opened the door to valuable discussions with experienced researchers working on Ralstonia solanacearum. These exchanges provided useful insights into surveillance approaches, environmental conditions linked to pathogen spread, and the methodological challenges involved in isolation and identification.
Through its participation in the symposium, POMATO reinforced its commitment to advancing knowledge on bacterial wilt diseases, improving disease detection approaches, and building stronger connections across regions and disciplines.
