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Development of sustainable control strategies against virus yellows in sugar beet based on RNA-spray (ViVe_Beet)
Project
Project code: JKI-A-08-1308, 2821ABS020
Contract period: 01.10.2021
- 30.09.2024
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Virus yellows in the sugar beet can be responsible for significant economic yield losses of up to 30-40%. Viruses known to affect sugar beet in Europe include the Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV), Beet chlorosis virus (BChV), Beet yellows virus (BYV) and Beet mosaic virus (BtMV). The most important vector is the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (M. persicae), an extremely polyphagous aphid that occurs as a pest on many cultivated plants.
From the mid-1990s onwards, virus yellows in sugar beets was controlled very well by see treatments with neonicotinoids. Since they have systemic properties early aphid infestation was controlled sufficiently. After the ban of the neonicotinoid seed treatment in 2019, severe infections with virus yellows was observed in important German sugar beet growing areas.
Currently, there is a lack of resistant or virus yellows tolerant sugarbeet cultivars, insecticide resistance in M. persicae is increasing and only a limited number of insecticidal active ingredients is available and approved. Therefore, the development of alternative strategies for the targeted and selective control of the most important virus vector M. persicae and the transmitted virus species is urgently required.
The aim of this project is to develop a method based on RNA spray. The RNA interference (RNAi) technology offers great potential due to its high selectivity. The aim of the project is to specifically and selectively control M. persicae in the colonization of sugar beets and thus prevent the transmission of the species of virus yellows and, at the same time, to prevent virus replication in the plant.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Crop Protection
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Plant Protection in Field Crops and Grassland (JKI-A)