Purpose and Mission

The Department of Plant Viruses is dedicated to protecting and enhancing global plant health. Our work supports farmers, scientists, and policymakers in combating plant diseases, ensuring global food security.

Vision

We aim to be the global leader in the collection, diagnosis, research, and management of plant viruses, serving as the central hub for plant virology.

Core Values

• Excellence: Striving for the highest quality in all our endeavors.
• Innovation: Developing new methods and technologies.
• Collaboration: Promoting global partnerships and cooperation.
• Transparency: Upholding openness and integrity in our work.

Our Core Areas

• Collection & Reference Materials: The department maintains the world's most comprehensive collection of plant viruses. This collection is an essential resource for research and diagnostics, supported by extensive data on genomes, biological traits, and transmission characteristics.
• Discovery & Diversity: We focus on identifying new plant viruses and exploring their diversity. Through global surveillance and advanced sequencing technologies, we discover unknown viruses and contribute to combating emerging plant diseases.
• Biology, Pathogenicity & Host Responses: Our research is focused onto how plant viruses cause diseases and how plants respond. This knowledge is crucial for developing resistant plant varieties and improving plant health. Thus, we study the roles plant viruses play within ecosystems and develop innovative strategies for disease control. Our goal is to understand the functions of viruses and create practical applications to combat virus outbreaks.

Our Goals for the Future

• Expanding the Virus Collection: Continuously expanding and diversifying our collection to support research and diagnostics worldwide.
• Intensifying Research & Services: Enhancing our research capabilities and developing new diagnostic tools.
• Promoting International Collaboration: Expanding global networks to more effectively combat plant diseases.
• Integrating Cutting-Edge Technologies: Utilizing high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics to improve virus surveillance and diagnostics.
• Enhancing Public Outreach: Increasing the visibility of our work through targeted outreach and educational initiatives.

Our Infrastructure and Tools The Department of Plant Viruses is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, enabling us to study viruses from individual genes to complex network responses. Our facilities include over 300 accredited ELISA test kits, molecular assays such as LAMP, and sequencing technologies that allow precise identification and analysis of viruses.