RNA-Seq profile of flavescence dorée phytoplasma in grapevine

Background The phytoplasma-borne disease flavescence doree is still a threat to European viticulture, despite mandatory control measures and prophylaxis against the leafhopper vector. Given the economic importance of grapevine, it is essential to find alternative strategies to contain the spread, in order to possibly reduce the current use of harmful insecticides. Further studies of the pathogen, the vector and the mechanisms of phytoplasma-host interactions could improve our understanding of the disease. In this work, RNA-Seq technology followed by three de novo assembly strategies was used to provide the first comprehensive transcriptomics landscape of flavescence doree phytoplasma (FD) infecting field-grown Vitis vinifera leaves.