Understand whether the potato pale cyst nematode trap crop, litchi tomato, may provide a pathway for the introduction of certain quarantine viroids into U.S. Commercial potato production systems; to…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the Regents of the University of Idaho a cooperative agreement worth $138,605 on August 1, 2026, to evaluate whether the potato pale cyst nematode trap crop, litchi tomato, may provide a pathway for the introduction of quarantine viroids into U.S. commercial potato production systems; to understand viroid pathogenesis, seed transmission, and diagnostics; and to screen potato germplasm for sources of potential resistance to these viroids. The work supports prevention of viroid introduction to the U.S. potato industry or mitigation of damage should introduction occur. Performance will take place in Moscow, Idaho, with a completion date of July 31, 2027.

Understand whether the potato pale cyst nematode trap crop, litchi tomato, may provide a pathway for the introduction of certain quarantine viroids into U.S. Commercial potato production systems; to understand viroid pathogenesis, seed transmission, and diagnostics; and to screen potato germplasm for sources of potential resistance to these viroids. Taken together, this work will help prevent introduction of quarantine viroids to the highly valuable U.S. Potato industry or mitigate damage should introduction occur.