In Vitro Culture Research of Jujube Witches' Broom Phytoplasma (PRJCA040586)

The In Vitro Culture Research of Jujube Witches' Broom Phytoplasma is a Henan Provincial International Science and Technology Cooperation Cultivation Project applied for by Henan Agricultural University and recommended by the Henan Provincial Department of Education. The project collaborates with the University of Bologna, Italy, with a duration from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. The total budget is 100,000 yuan, fully undertaken by Henan Agricultural University. The project leader is Professor Li Jidong from Henan Agricultural University, and the lead coordinator from the foreign partner is Professor Assunta Bertaccini from the University of Bologna. Through analyzing the endophytic flora of jujube trees affected by witches' broom, optimizing the in vitro culture medium formula, and screening antibiotics, the project aims to achieve the first successful in vitro culture of jujube witches' broom phytoplasma (16Sr V group) and obtain monoclonal strains, breaking through the technical bottlenecks in studying its pathogenic mechanism and prevention. Relying on the Henan Provincial International Joint Laboratory for Utilization of Forest Resources, the project will leverage the unique experience of foreign partners in phytoplasma culture and combine with the advantages of Chinese researchers in jujube germplasm resources and molecular biology research. It is expected to publish 2 academic papers, apply for 1 invention patent, and train 2 master's students, providing support for the quality upgrading of the jujube industry and international agricultural science and technology cooperation.