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30 POTATO GROWER | NOVEMBER 2019 Scientists discover key interaction between plant viruses and insect viruses Tough Team to Beat Diggin' In Diggin' In RESEARCH | By Aaron J. Bouchie, courtesy of the Cornell Chronicle Aphids and the plant viruses they transmit cause billions of dollars in crop damage around the world every year. A Cornell-led research team is examining the relationship at the molecular level, which could lead to new methods for controlling the pests. A group led by Michelle Heck, a research molecular biologist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Boyce Thompson Institute, used recently developed small RNA sequencing techniques to better understand how plant viruses interact with aphids. And in an unanticipated discovery, Heck and her team uncovered what may be the first example of a plant virus and an insect virus cooperating to increase the likelihood that both viruses will spread in their plant and aphid hosts. The work, "Plant Viruses Transmitted in Two Different Modes Produce Differing Effects on Small RNA-Mediated Processes in Their Aphid Vector," was published in March 2019 in Phytobiomes. Heck and her team focused on the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), which transmits more than 100 plant viruses and feeds on a variety of crops, including peaches, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage and corn. Potato leafroll virus (PLRV) is of particular concern, as it can reduce potato yield by more than 50 percent, causing 20 million tons of global yield losses annually. "The most interesting finding of this research is that PLRV suppressed the aphid's immune system, and this Convey real-life farming practices to influential administration officials and regulators Meet face-to-face with your members of Congress and key staff to communicate priorities Hear from top political analysts on insider's perspectives on politics and policies impacting your farm POTATO D.C. FLY-IN February 24-27, 2020 | Capital Hilton, Washington, D.C. SAVE THE DATE STANDING UP FOR POTATOES ON CAPITOL HILL politics and policies impacting your farm 2363-21NationalPotatoCouncil12h.indd 1 9/30/19 1:24 PM