Agricultural pests cause serious problems in crops, especially under the climatic conditions of Greece, where they develop in high populations. In addition to the direct damages, some species are potential vectors of very important diseases of trees, vines and vegetables.
In the context of continuous change (invasion of new species, climate change, restriction of use of conventional plant protection products), our team studies the biology, ecology, genetics and evolution of insect, mite and nematode populations of agricultural interest and implements research projects aimed at developing new technologies, tools and methodologies for their integrated management and crop protection.
Research on agricultural pests is carried out by Dr. E. Tzortzakakis who specializes in phytoparasitic nematodes, Dr. K. Varikou in bio-ecology of herbivorous insects and integrated management, Dr. A. Kalaitzaki in bio-ecology of insect pests and parasitoids and Dr. A. Tsagkarakou specializing in molecular entomology and genetics of insect and mite populations. Our research team interacts with the disease team as well as with Dr. K. Tzerakis in frames of developing new technologies.
The team is staffed by technical scientists Ms. E. Peraki and C. Sergentani as well as postdoctoral scientists and other young scientists working on the current research projects.
D. Ntinokas, I. Roussis, A. Mavroeidis, P. Stavropoulos, A. Folina, I. Kakabouki, E. A. Tzortzakakis, D. Bilalis & I.O. Giannakou 2025 Virulence of Five Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) on Nine Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Varieties and Nematicidal Potential of Hemp Seed Extracts Against Meloidogyne javanica Plants, 14
A.M. Skantar, Z.A. Handoo, M. N. Hult, A. Habteweld1, M. Kormpi & E.A. Tzortzakakis 2025 Molecular and morphological characterization of Avenae-group cyst nematodes (Heteroderidae) from Greece Journal of Nematology , 57
E. A. Tzortzakakis, J. E. Palomares-Rius, A. Garcia-Velazquez, R,Salazar-Garcia, P. Castillo & A.Archidona-Yuste 2025 Life Cycle of the Dagger Nematode Xiphinema israeliae and the Host Suitability of Olive and Fig for X. israeliae and X. italiae Agronomy, 15
A. García Velázquez, D. Ntinokas, C. Cantalapiedra-Navarrete, I.O. Giannakou, J.E. Palomares- Rius, E. A. Tzortzakakis, P. Castillo & Antonio Archidona-Yuste 2025 Two New Reported Species of Longidorus spp. and Xenocriconemella spp. from Mainland Greece Journal of Nematology , 57
I.Clavero-Camacho, A.N. Ruiz-Cuenca, C. Cantalapiedra-Navarrete, A. Archidona-Yuste, I.Giannakou, M.Kormpi, J.E. Palomares-Rius, P. Castillo & E.A. Tzortzakakis 2024 First reports of Hemicycliophora poranga, Helicotylenchus dihystera and Tylenchorhynchus zeae (Tylenchomorpha) from Greece and further records of four other nematode species Journal of Nematology , 55
E. A. Tzortzakakis, Cantalapiedra-Navarrete, P. Castillo, J. E. Palomares-Rius and A.Archidona-Yuste 2024 Response of Origanum dictamnus L. (Cretan dittany) to Five Species of Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) Journal of Nematology , 56
E.A. Tzortzakakis, E. Nasiou, A. Chatzaki & T.C. Thoden 2023 Compatibility of fluazaindolizine with Pasteuria penetrans on spore attachment and infection of three Meloidogyne species Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection , 130, 817-822.
E.A. Tzortzakakis 2023 The effect of drying a water suspension of Pasteuria penetrans on spore viability Russian Journal of Nematology, 31, 111-114.
E.A. Tzortzakakis 2023 Survival of Xiphinema index for six years in stored clay soil from a vineyard Nematology, 25, 1193-1195.
I. Clavero-Camacho, C. Cantapedra-Navarrete, M. Kormpi, J.E. Palomares-Rius, E.A. Tzortzakakis, P. Castillo, A. Archidona-Yuste 2022 First report of Longidorus leptocephalus Hooper,1961 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Greece. Journal of Nematology
E.A. Tzortzakakis 2022 The effect on spore viability of storing the nematode parasite Pasteuria penetrans in either dried root material or water suspension. Russian Journal of Nematology, 30, 19-20.
E.A. Tzortzakakis, T.C. Thoden & A. Chatzaki Investigation of fluazaindolizine as a potential novel tool to manage Xiphinema index Crop Protection
E.A. Tzortzakakis A convenient space miniaturised methodology for short-term experiments with Xiphinema index on fig (Ficus carica) Russian Journal of Nematology, 34, 13-18.
- «Δημιουργία Εθνικού ερευνητικού δικτύου στην αλυσίδα αξίας της ελιάς» (Εμβληματικής δράση ‘Οι δρόμοι της Ελιάς). Υποέργο 2-ΦυτοπροστασίαProject Category:NationalProject duration:October 2018 - October 2021Scientfic Responsible:Dr Anastasia TsagkarakouFunding Agency:Γ.Γ.Ε.Τ.Project website:
https://dromoielias.gr/
