Environmental Entomology (2018) 47, 396-402

Javier García Gonzalez, Marisol Giraldo Jaramillo and João Roberto Spotti Lopes (2018)
Undetected infection by Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma enhances host-plant preference to Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Environmental Entomology 47 (2), 396-402
Abstract: Vector-borne plant pathogenic bacteria can induce changes in infected plants favoring the insect vector behavior and biology. The study aimed to determine the effect of maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP) postinoculation period on the host plant preference and transmission efficiency by the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis DeLong and Wolcott, 1923 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). In a series of choice tests, D. maidis preference was measured as settling and oviposition on healthy maize plants versus infected maize plants showing early disease symptoms, advanced symptoms, or no symptoms. Finally, transmission efficiency of D. maidis was measured when the vector previously acquired the phytoplasma from asymptomatic source plants at different postinoculation periods. D. maidis adults preferred to settle and to oviposit on healthy than on symptomatic infected plants with advanced disease symptoms, and preferred asymptomatic plants over symptomatic ones. MBSP transmission by D. maidis was positively correlated with the postinoculation period of the source plant. Results suggest an MBSP modulation for D. maidis preference on asymptomatic infected maize plants in the early stages of the crop, allowing the pathogen an undetected transmission.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): 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.
	Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Dalbulus maidis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)