The concept of SharCo (Sharka Containment) is to combine prophylactic and genetic solutions to prevent or limit the spread of the sharka disease (caused by PPV). The project scope covers the entire chain from planting materiel (seedlings, scions…) production to orchard management. It addresses all concerned stakeholders, breeders, nurserymen, fruit producers, and plant protection services with relevant outcomes including respectively resistant varieties, management guidelines, cultivation guidelines, optimised survey and detection methods and tools.
Sharco is included in the Seventh Framework European Programme.

The sharka disease is a worldwide serious problem with a severe impact on the productivity and fruit quality of Prunus species. It is caused by Plum pox virus (PPV), a virus against which no chemical or biological curative treatment is available.
The current short-term solution is the eradication of infected trees and the plantation of virus-free material. SharCo is aimed at providing the EU with tools such as marker-assisted selection to speed up the production of PPV (Plum pox virus) resistant plant materials, guidelines, early warning systems and decision-support system in order to anticipate further PPV outbreaks.
For that purpose, the project will, in the field of epidemiology, identify driving factors of PPV spread and diversification and develop novel and highthrough-put detection systems warning sharka outbreaks. In the field of genetics, it will provide molecular markers for the implementation of marker assisted selection of PPV resistant fruit varieties. In the field of biology, SharCo partners will assess innovative biotechnological approaches to broaden resistance to PPV in different fruit tree species. Finally, in order to develop a PPV outbreak management, the project will elaborate i) guidelines for endusers and policy makers concerning cultivation and risk management, ii) an early warning system coupled with a decision support system. All knowledge and tools developed by the project will be widely disseminated all over Europe with a special attention paid to PPV endemic countries.