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Leveraging Existing Biodiversity and Zoonosis Monitoring Infrastructure for Integrative Plant Pathogen Surveillance
Valeria Trivellone1, Andrew J Mackay1, Christopher M Stone1
1Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA.
Insects
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Biodiversity monitoring programs can detect novel plant pathogens in archived insect specimens. This approach enhances surveillance for agricultural and ecological health, extending the One Health concept to natural ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Microbiology
- Plant Pathology
Background:
- Emerging plant diseases are increasing due to environmental changes, impacting agriculture and ecosystems.
- Current pathogen monitoring often overlooks plant pathogens and their reservoirs in natural habitats.
- Integrating biodiversity and zoonosis surveillance can improve detection of diverse pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of existing biodiversity and zoonosis monitoring programs for plant pathogen surveillance.
- To develop and apply an integrative workflow for detecting vector-borne plant pathogens in archived insect specimens.
- To identify phytoplasmas and their insect hosts in protected Illinois habitats.
Main Methods:
- Screened archived insect specimens (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) from Illinois protected habitats.
- Employed molecular screening and taxonomic identification to detect phytoplasmas (Mollicutes).
- Utilized epidemiological inference to characterize host-pathogen associations.
Main Results:
- Detected at least three distinct phytoplasma strains: 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' (16SrI-B), 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni'-related strains (16SrIII), and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma sacchari'-related strains (16SrXI-H).
- Documented the first occurrence of a 16SrXI-H phytoplasma subgroup in Illinois.
- Identified five insect specimens harboring phytoplasmas across four sites, revealing new insect-phytoplasma associations.
Conclusions:
- Archived insect specimens from biodiversity and zoonosis monitoring programs are valuable resources for plant pathogen surveillance.
- An integrative workflow effectively detects vector-borne plant pathogens in preserved insect material.
- This approach supports proactive plant disease management and expands the One Health framework to include natural ecosystems.
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