European Journal of Plant Pathology (2022) 163, 615-623

Kadriye Çaglayan, Mona Gazel, Çigdem Ulubas Serçe and Kamuran Kaya (2022)
Assessment of susceptibility of different rootstock/ variety combinations of pear to Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri and experimental transmission studies by Cacopsylla pyri
European Journal of Plant Pathology 163 (3), 615-623
Abstract: In this study, efficient transmission ways of ' Ca. P. pyri' which causes Pear Decline (PD) disease and response of different rootstock-scion combinations to this pathogen were evaluated. For graft transmission trials, fifty BA29 clonal rootstocks were grafted with buds taken from a 'Ca. P. pyri' infected pear tree, cv. Deveci, and the transmission rate was found to be 8% according to PCR/RFLP analyses. Growth retardation was detected in some grafted plants but the specific reddening symptoms for PD were not observed during the 2 years of observation. Cacopsylla pyri L., playing important role for the transmission of pear decline phytoplasma in open field, was used for experimental transmission trials. It has been shown that it can acquire phytoplasma (in 1 day) and transmit it (in 2 weeks to healthy pear saplings). Therefore it was revealed that C. pyri plays an important role in pear decline epidemiology. When the response of several rootstock-scion combinations to 'Ca. P. pyri'was evaluated over two vegetative periods by visual monitoring of symptom development and by PCR analyses, two Santa Maria and one Williams plants grafted on OHF333 and one Deveci plant grafted on P. communis were found infected by ' Ca. P. pyri', but no infection was detected in a local cv. Ankara grafted on any rootstocks. Among the commercial cultivars, our local cv. Deveci was found the most sensitive and cv. Ankara was the most tolerant. The use of healthy plant materials, as well as the appropriate control of the vector will play an important role in disease control.
(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): Mona Gazel, Çigdem Ulubas Serçe

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.
	Cacopsylla pyri	Pear (Pyrus)	Turkey
	Phytoplasma pyri	Pear (Pyrus)	Turkey