The name 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni' was informally suggested by the International Research Program for Comparative Mycoplasmology in 2004, but the taxon was not formally described until 2013.

[8] Historically, X-disease has been a major limiting factor in peach production in the United States.

[1] X-disease is transmitted by various species of leafhoppers in family Cicadellidae, including Colladonas clitellarius, C. montanus, C. geminatus, Euscelidius variegatus, Fieberiella florii, Graphocephala confluens, Gyponana lamina, Keonella confluens, Norvellina seminuda, Osbornellus borealis, Paraphlepsius irroratus, and Scaphytopius delongi.

It is localized in Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario) and widespread in the United States (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington).

[2] The disease may also be present in Asia (India, Japan), Europe (Poland), and additional U.S. states.