Journal of Phytopathology (2018) 166, 502-505

Patrícia Fabretti Kreyci, Bárbara Eckstein, João Roberto Spotti Lopes, Jacson Ferreira and Ivan Paulo Bedendo (2018)
Transmission of "Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni"-related strain associated with broccoli stunt by four species of leafhoppers
Journal of Phytopathology 166 (7-8), 502-505
Abstract: A disease known as broccoli stunt, associated with "Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni"-related strain, has been responsible by significant economic losses in crops grown in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Previous investigations evidenced some species of leafhoppers observed in broccoli fields as potential vectors of the phytoplasma. In this study, the six species more frequently found in broccoli crops were collected to confirm that evidence. Group of five insects of each species were confined per broccoli seedling for an inoculation access period (IAP) of 48 hr. After the IAP, each group was tested for detection of phytoplasma. Evaluation of plants was performed 60 days after inoculation based on the presence of phytoplasma in their tissues. When transmission was positive, genomic fragments corresponding to 16S rDNA were sequenced both for the infected plants and its respective group of insects. The results revealed that the species Agallia albidula, Agalliana sticticollis, Atanus nitidus and Balcluta hebe were able to transmit phytoplasma to broccoli seedlings. Based on the estimates of transmission probability by single insects (P), the highest transmission rate was observed for A. nitidus (24.2%) and the lowest for B. hebe (1.9%). The sequencing of 16S rDNA revealed complete similarity between the sequences of the phytoplasma transmitted to broccoli test plants and the sequences of the phytoplasma found in the field-collected leafhoppers. These findings support the inclusion of those species as vectors of phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrIII group in broccolis, providing additional information to improve management of this important disease of endemic occurrence.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Ivan Paulo Bedendo, João Roberto Spotti Lopes

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma pruni	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)
	Atanus nitidus	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)
	Balclutha hebe	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)
	Agallia albidula	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)
	Agallia sticticollis	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)