Bulletin of Insectology (2007) 60, 209-210

C.J. Mayer, A. Vilcinskas and J. Gross (2007)
Chemo-ecologically mediated interactions among `Candidatus Phytoplasma mali', its vector Cacopsylla picta, and their host plant Malus domestica
Bulletin of Insectology 60 (2), 209-210
First International Phytoplasmologist Working Group Meeting (IPWG), Bologna (Italy) November 12-15, 2007
Abstract: Apple proliferation caused by the apple proliferation phytoplasma‚ `Candidatus Phytoplasma mali', causes major economic losses in European apple production. The apple proliferation phytoplasma is naturally spread by the two leaf sucker species Cacopsylla melanoneura and C. picta (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psyllidae) It was investigated in a previous study that both psyllid species use chemical cues for orientation. In this study investigation were carried out on the behavioural reactions of C. picta on volatiles from healthy plants and those infected with apple proliferation in respect to the infection status of the psyllids themselves and to their previous host experience. The influence of the apple proliferation phytoplasma on the volatile emission of apple trees was investigated by head space collection followed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The differences in the behavioural responses to the volatiles of infected versus non-infected plants as well as the respective differences detected among the volatile compounds will be presented and ecological interactions between the association of C. picta and 'Ca. P. mali' will be discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
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Database assignments for author(s): Jürgen Gross

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)