Plant Pathology (2017) 66, 1015-1021

C. Mittelberger, L. Obkircher, S. Oettl, T. Oppedisano, F. Pedrazzoli, B. Panassiti, C. Kerschbamer, G. Anfora and K. Janik (2017)
The insect vector Cacopsylla picta vertically transmits the bacterium ' Candidatus Phytoplasma mali' to its progeny
Plant Pathology 66 (6), 1015-1021
Abstract: The phloem-sucking psyllid Cacopsylla picta plays an important role in transmitting the bacterium ' Candidatus Phytoplasma mali', the agent associated with apple proliferation disease. The psyllid can ingest ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali' from infected apple trees and spread the bacterium by subsequently feeding on uninfected trees. Until now, this has been the most important method of ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali' transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate whether infected C. picta are able to transmit ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali' directly to their progeny. This method of transmission would allow the bacteria to bypass a time-consuming reproductive cycle in the host plant. Furthermore, this would cause a high number of infected F₁ individuals in the vector population. To address this question, eggs, nymphs and adults derived from infected overwintering adults of C. picta were reared on non-infected apple saplings and subsequently tested for the presence of ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali'. In this study it was shown for the first time that infected C. picta individuals transmit ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali' to their eggs, nymphs and F₁ adults, thus providing the basis for a more detailed understanding of ' Ca. Phytoplasma mali' transmission by C. picta.
(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): Federico Pedrazzoli

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 mali	Apple (Malus)
	Cacopsylla picta	Apple (Malus)