A man in a greenhouse environment. Photo.
Ramesh Vetukuri leads the research behind an RNA-based spray that can protect potatoes from late blight and reduce the need for chemical fungicides. Photo: Cajsa Lithell.

RNA spray against potato late blight recognized by IVA

News published:  05/06/2026

An RNA-based spray targeting potato late blight has been included on the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences’ (IVA) list of projects with high potential to contribute to innovation and a more sustainable agriculture sector.

Potato late blight is one of the world’s most costly plant diseases. In Europe alone, it is estimated to cause losses of more than five billion euros annually and requires repeated fungicide treatments.

At the same time, the need for new crop protection solutions is increasing. The development of resistance in pests, stricter environmental regulations, and reduced availability of chemical pesticides are driving researchers and farmers to seek more sustainable alternatives. RNA-based plant protection is therefore seen as a promising tool, as it can be designed to target specific pathogens without harming the crop.

Reduced infections by up to 70 percent in early trials

To meet this challenge, Ramesh Vetukuri and his research group at SLU have developed an RNA-based spray that targets the late blight pathogen directly.

– Our technology uses naturally occurring RNA molecules that are sprayed directly onto potato plants to silence key genes in the late blight pathogen. This makes it more difficult for the pathogen to establish disease while leaving the crop unaffected, says Ramesh Vetukuri. 

In greenhouse trials, a single treatment reduced infection by up to 70 percent, and RNA molecules could still be detected on the leaves several weeks after application.

– Repeated treatments showed no negative effects on growth, photosynthesis, or yield, says Ramesh.

A smaller potato plant on the left and a larger one on the right. Photo.
Left: potato plants sprayed with water and then inoculated with Phytophthora infestans, showing clear disease symptoms. Right: plants treated with an RNA spray prior to inoculation, where disease development is strongly reduced.

From research to commercialization

The project is now moving into its next phase. A patent application has been filed, and the spin-off company Elaris Bio has been established through the SLU Holding accelerator program to support further development.

– The next step is pilot field trials and scaling up RNA production for commercial use, concludes Ramesh Vetukuri.

The project is one of three from SLU selected this year for IVA’s list of research with high impact potential. The other projects focus on antibacterial materials inspired by cicada wings and rice varieties that combine high yields with significantly reduced methane emissions.

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