Advances in Detection and Relative Quantification of the Cranberry False Blossom Disease-Associated Phytoplasma

False blossom disease of cranberry can cause several symptoms, including flower distortion, leading to reduced fruit set and significant yield losses. The disease is systemic, incurable in affected plants, and primarily spreads via an insect vector. Historically, control efforts in the early 1900s employed effective insecticides and the release of resistant cultivars, but the recent reemergence of false blossom calls for improved detection and management strategies. In this study, we present an enhanced diagnostic protocol targeting the phytoplasma responsible for false blossom disease, detectable in crude extracts from infected plants and the blunt-nosed leafhopper, Limotettix vaccinii (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), vector. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay was designed for rapid, field-ready detection, and a quantitative PCR assay was developed to quantify pathogen loads across various cranberry genotypes and treatments. The diagnostic tools presented herein aim to advance early detection and management efforts, thereby mitigating the impact of false blossom disease on cranberry production.