The Arstol-Veg project addresses the growing threat posed by Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus and Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (stolbur) in open-field vegetable crops. Both pathogens, historically associated with sugar beet, are now emerging in other crops such as potatoes and field-grown vegetables, raising serious phytosanitary and economic concerns. Their spread is tightly linked to the biology of their insect vectors, notably Pentastiridius leporinus, whose life cycle and transmission capacity are influenced by climate conditions, cropping systems, and the presence of alternative host plants.
This interdisciplinary research program combines molecular diagnostics, epidemiological surveys, and ecological modelling to identify infection pathways, host range, and risk factors for disease persistence and dissemination. The project also investigates the agronomic consequences of these infections in vegetable crops, including potential yield losses and quality deterioration, which may remain undetected in the absence of visible symptoms.