First report of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma identification and characterization in three species of leafhoppers

• Published in: Journal of plant pathology Vol. 104; no. 1; pp. 375 - 379
• Main Authors: Belgeri, Elena, Rizzoli, Attilio, Jermini, Mauro, Angelini, Elisa, Filippin, Luisa, Rigamonti, Ivo Ercole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-02-2022
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Plant Sciences; Short Communication; FD phytoplasma
• ISSN: 1125-4653; 2239-7264
• DOI: 10.1007/s42161-021-01012-y

Phytoplasma strains were sporadically found in specimens of
Hishimonus hamatus, Japananus hyalinus
and
Graphocephala fennahi
caught during an entomological survey conducted in Southern Switzerland on the edges and woods surrounding cultivated vineyards in 2017. The subsequent molecular characterization of the pathogens allowed to identify them as strains strictly associated to Flavescence dorée, a serious European grapevine disease, transmitted from vine to vine by the leafhopper
Scaphoideus titanus
. In particular, M12 and M50 genotypes were found in
H. hamatus
and
J. hyalinus
, respectively, while
G. fennahi
harboured mixed phytoplasma genotypes with at least two different Flavescence dorée isolates. The potential importance of these findings in the frame of the Flavescence dorée epidemics in Europe is discussed.