**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** VIRUS DISEASES ARE THE HIGHEST RANKED PROBLEM FACING BLACKBERRY GROWERS IN THE SOUTHEAST.THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CHARACTERIZE ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF BLACKBERRY VIRUS DISEASE COMPLEXES IN THE SOUTHEAST. THIS PROJECT WILL ENHANCE SUSTAINABLE BLACKBERRY PRODUCTION BY PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIRUS DISEASE RISK AND MITIGATION. OUR APPROACH WILL BE TO ASSESS VIRAL COMMUNITY DIVERSITY AND SPREAD AT THE INTERFACE OF BLACKBERRY CROPS,WILD VIRUS RESERVOIRS, AND INSECT VECTORS.THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES WILL ADDRESS OUR LONG-TERM GOALS:OBJECTIVE 1. ASSESS BLACKBERRY VIRUS PREVALENCE AND GENETIC DIVERSITY IN BLACKBERRY CROPS AND IN WILD RUBUS SPP. IN SOUTH CAROLINA.OBJECTIVE 2. CHARACTERIZE INSECT VECTOR DYNAMICS AT THE AGROECOLOGICAL INTERFACE IN ASSOCIATION WITH VIRUS LANDSCAPE MOVEMENT.