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The RNA technology used in certain anti-covid vaccines could also be used to combat flavescence dorée (golden yellowing). A laboratory in Bordeaux has conducted successful trials on this. The disease-carrying American grapevine cicadas were injected with an RNA interference that prevents the synthesis of a certain protein. This suppresses the vine cicada's ability to transmit for up to twelve days.
The tests are still far from field trials; moreover, production of RNA interference is complicated and expensive. Nevertheless, the method could be promising for the future, because so far only insecticides are available to control the vectors.
(al / source: vitisphere, photo: wikipedia Josef Klement)