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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #432768
Research Project: Integrated Approach to Manage the Pest Complex on Temperate Tree Fruits

Location: Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research

Title: Genetic insights in two Colladonus species that infect cherry trees with X-disease

Author
item EASTERLING, KATHERINE - Former ARS Employee
item Marshall, Adrian
item Pitino, Marco
item Cooper, William
item Walker Iii, William

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: X-Disease is caused by Candidatus phytoplasma pruni bacteria transmitted to stone fruit trees by Colladonus leafhopper vectors, and is fatal to the fruit trees. Currently there are no direct treatments to control x-disease, and growers are recommended to remove infected trees. Very little is known about the genetics of the Colladonus leafhoppers and the x-disease phytoplasma. This project investigates genetic interactions between Ca. phytoplasma pruni and its Colladonus leafhopper vectors. RNA-sequencing has also been performed to generate transcriptome catalogues of all genes expressed by Colladonus reductus and C. geminatus leafhoppers and x-disease phytoplasma during infection of the leafhoppers. These datasets are being analyzed to identify the genes that may mediate x-disease phytoplasma interactions with their insect hosts. The genomic resources developed from this project will be used to conduct RNA interference gene-knockdown experiments aimed at identifying genes that may be targeted with an aim to disrupt the phytoplasma life-cycle within the insect vector.