David Pires - PineProtect (PhD)

Project details

"PineProtect — Exploring the biocontrol potential of Esteya spp. against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in Pinus pinaster" aims to:

Characterize and assess the potential for biocontrol of different isolates of nematophagous fungi, Esteya spp., against B. xylophilus;
Unravel the transcriptomic response of the nematode to these fungal antagonists;
Evaluate their ability to suppress the nematode in maritime pine, P. pinaster, and develop sustainable management strategies for pine wilt disease.

Funding: Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT), through the PhD Fellowship 2021.08030.BD. More information on Dimensions.

Start date | 1 January 2022 — 31 December 2025 | End date

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles

Pimentel, C.S., Pires, D., Campôa, J, Branco, J., Marques, R., Mota, M.M. & Calvão, T. (2025). Multiple factors associated with forest decline in the context of control measures for the pinewood nematode. European Journal of Plant Pathology. 10.1007/s10658-025-03122-0.
Pires, D., Vicente, C.S.L., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. (2024). Polyphasic approach to the selection of Esteya isolates for the control of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Fungal Biology, 128(8): 2242–2249. 10.1016/j.funbio.2024.10.001.
Pires, D., Orlando, V., Collett, R.L., Moreira, D., Costa, S.R. & Inácio, M.L. (2023). Linking nematode communities and soil health under climate change. Sustainability, 15(15): 11747. 10.3390/su151511747.
Pires, D., Vicente, C.S.L., Menéndez, E., Faria, J.M.S., Rusinque, L., Camacho, M.J. & Inácio, M.L. (2022). The fight against plant-parasitic nematodes: current status of bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents. Pathogens, 11(10): 1178. 10.3390/pathogens11101178.
Pires, D., Vicente, C.S.L., Inácio, M.L. & Mota, M. (2022). The potential of Esteya spp. for the biocontrol of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Microorganisms, 10(1): 168. 10.3390/microorganisms10010168.

Technical articles

Faria, J.M.S, Cavaco, T., Nunes, J.C., Gonçalves, D., Vicente, C.S.L., Pires, D., Bonifácio, L. & Inácio, M.L. (2023). O nemátode da madeira do pinheiro: novas abordagens de controlo e monitorização. Vida Rural, 60–65. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/36155.
Pires, D., Vicente, C.S.L., Faria, J.M.S., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. (2022). Pinhal sustentável: o combate ao nemátode da madeira do pinheiro com fungos antagonistas. Vida Rural, 72–77. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/32355.

Talks (*invited)

Pires, D. “PineProtect – Exploring the biocontrol potential of Esteya spp. against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus”. Sessões Públicas de Doutoramento em Biologia 2024 (Public PhD Sessions in Biology), University of Évora, Évora, 6 June 2024.
Pires, D.* "Biocontrol of nematodes using fungi: the case of the pinewood nematode". PhytoHealth International Webinar Series, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines, 22 November 2023, online.
Pires, D. “PineProtect – Exploring the biocontrol potential of Esteya spp. against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus”. Sessões Públicas de Doutoramento em Biologia 2023 (Public PhD Sessions in Biology), University of Évora, Évora, 10 October 2023.
Pires, D., Vicente, C., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. “Antagonistic fungi in the fight against the pinewood nematode”. 2nd MED Meeting, Évora, Portugal, 4 July 2023.
Pires, D., Vicente, C., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. “Investigating a correlation between growth rate and pathogenicity of nematophagous fungi, Esteya spp., against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus”. Advances in Nematology, London, United Kingdom, 8 December 2022.
Pires, D., Vicente, C., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. “PineEnemy – Biological control of pinewood nematode using the fungal antagonists Esteya spp.”. IUFRO All-Division 7 Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal, 6 September 2022.
Pires, D.* “Fungal allies in the fight against the pinewood nematode”. Mycology Seminars of the Department of Botany, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, 24 May 2022.
Pires, D., Vicente, C., Mota, M. & Inácio, M.L. “Unraveling the biotic interactions between Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Pinus pinaster and nematophagous fungi, Esteya spp.”. 7th International Congress of Nematology, Antibes Juan-Les-Pins, France, 3 May 2022.
Pires, D. “Reviewing the potential of Esteya spp. for the biocontrol of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus”. Seminars in Biology, University of Évora, Évora, 4 February 2022.
Pires, D. “PineProtect – Exploring the biocontrol potential of Esteya spp. against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, in Pinus pinaster”. Thesis Seminar, University of Évora, Évora, 3 February 2022.
Pires, D., Vicente, C., Inácio, M.L. & Mota, M. “Exploring the biocontrol potential of Esteya spp. against the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Pinus pinaster”. ESN's Virtual Nematology Conference 2021, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 26 May 2021, online.

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