First report of cherry leafroll virus infecting tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Authors: OLMEDO-VELARDE, ALEJANDRO - Cornell College - Iowa; TANNIERES, MAELANIE - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); KASHEFI, JAVID - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); SHAKHZADYAN, HAYK - Cornell University; BREUGNOT, DAMIEN - European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL); Heck, Michelle

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2026
Publication Date: 5/18/2026
Citation: Olmedo-Velarde, A., Tannieres, M., Kashefi, J., Shakhzadyan, H., Breugnot, D., Heck, M.L. 2026. First report of cherry leafroll virus infecting tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Plant Disease. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-26-0343-PDN.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-02-26-0343-PDN

Interpretive Summary: Identifying viruses in the Tree of Heaven, an invasive species in Europe and North America, can help with managing its spread and understanding its role as a potential virus reservoir. This tree is of special interest because it is a major host for the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect pest. During field exploration, researchers collected leaf samples showing signs of viral infection from trees in Thessaloniki, Greece. They extracted and analyzed RNA from these samples using advanced sequencing techniques. This led to the first identification of the Cherry Leaf Roll Virus (CLRV) in the Tree of Heaven, revealing two viral sequences with high similarity to known CLRV strains and a third sequence that might represent a new type of satellite associated with these viruses. This discovery expands our knowledge of the host range of CLRV and highlights the Tree of Heaven's potential role in spreading the virus to agricultural crops. Although the Cherry Leaf Roll Virus currently shows limited potential as a biological control agent for the Tree of Heaven, modifying the virus genome to develop non-transmissible virus variants for targeted biological control could be promising. However, more research is needed to assess the ecological risks and potential advantages of this approach.

Technical Abstract: This study details the identification of the cherry leafroll virus (CLRV) in Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven), an invasive species in Europe and North America, and a host of the invasive spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. Identifying viruses is crucial for developing potential biological control strategies and understanding the role of A. altissima as a virus reservoir. Symptomatic leaf samples with chlorotic spots were collected in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2023. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and processed for RNA sequencing. Sequencing and de novo assembly identified viral contigs closely matching RNA1 and RNA2 of the cherry leafroll virus (CLRV), as well as a potential new satellite sequence. Specific primers were designed for the detection of CLRV in an RT-PCR assay, and the resulting PCR products were sequenced, confirming its presence in the original samples. This marks the first identification of CLRV in A. altissima, expanding the known host range of the virus and highlighting its potential role in spreading the virus to agronomic crops. While CLRV's potential as a biological control agent for A. altissima is currently limited, engineering its genome to reduce virus particle production could enhance its utility for developing non-transmissible variants for biological control. This research emphasizes the need for integrated surveillance and management of plant pathogens in ecosystems affected by exotic species and advocates for further exploration of precision biological control tools.