Acquisition capability of the grapevine Flavescence dorée by the leafhopper vector Scaphoideus titanus Ball correlates with phytoplasma titre in the source plant

This paper reviews the existing predictive models concerning insects and mites harmful to grapevine. A brief conceptual description is given on the definition of a model and about different types of models: deterministic vs. stochastics, continuous vs. discrete, analytical vs. computer-based, and descriptive vs. data-driven. The main biological aspects of grapevine pests covered by different types of models are phenology, population growth and dynamics, species distribution, and invasion risk. A particular emphasis is put on forecasting epidemics of plant disease agents transmitted by insects with sucking-piercing mouthparts. The most investigated species or groups are the glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) and other vectors of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa, a bacterium agent of Pierce’s disease; the European grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis and Schiffermuller); and the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus Ball, the main vector of phytoplasmas agents of Flavescence dorée. Finally, the present and future of decision-support systems (DSS) in viticulture is discussed.

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Acquisition of Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma by Scaphoideus titanus Ball from Different Grapevine Varieties

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms17091563 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 1563 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Luciana Galetto ◽

Dimitrios Miliordos ◽

Mattia Pegoraro ◽

Dario Sacco ◽

Flavio Veratti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flavescence Dorée ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus

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First Report of Flavescence Dorée-Related Phytoplasma Affecting Grapevines in Croatia

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-09-10-0664 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 353-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. Šeruga Musić ◽

D. Škorić ◽

I. Haluška ◽

I. Križanac ◽

J. Plavec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nested Pcr ◽

Reference Strain ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

Pinot Noir ◽

Vitis Vinifera L ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Direct Pcr ◽

Flavescence Dorée ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus

Flavescence dorée (FD) and Bois noir (BN) phytoplasmas are principal grapevine yellows (GY) agents in the wider Euro-Mediterranean Region. While BN phytoplasma belongs to the ribosomal subgroup 16SrXII-A, the FD agents belong either to the ribosomal subgroups 16SrV-C or -D. During the official GY survey in 2009, 40 symptomatic grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) were sampled throughout grapevine-growing regions in Croatia. Typical GY symptoms of leaf yellowing or reddening were evident on white and red varieties, respectively. Leaf rolling as well as irregular lignification of the shoots and withering of clusters were also observed. Phloem tissue from cuttings and leaf veins from mature vines were sampled for total DNA extraction and amplification of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene by using generic primers P1/P7 in a direct PCR assay followed by a nested PCR using primer pair R16F2n/R2 (2). Phytoplasma ribosomal group affiliation was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the nested PCR products with enzyme Tru1I (Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania). These initial findings were validated and augmented by a triplex real-time PCR assay targeting the nonribosomal map gene. This assay enables simultaneous detection of BN and FD (16SrV-C and -D) phytoplasmas in grapevine (3). Assay results revealed the majority of GY positive vines (19 of 40) contained BN phytoplasma which is widespread. For the first time in Croatia, two red variety samples, Pinot Noir and Plemenka Crvena, from the vicinity of Ozalj (Vivodina) and Zagreb (Brezje), respectively, were found to harbor FD-related phytoplasmas. Fragments amplified by P1/P7 primers from latter samples were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analyses using online interactive tool iPhyClassifier (4) revealed that the phytoplasma under study from Pinot Noir sample (GenBank Accession No. HQ712064) is a member of 16SrV-C subgroup and shares 99.87% similarity with 16S rDNA sequence of the reference strain (GenBank Accession No. AF176319). The sequence from the Plemenka Crvena sample (GenBank Accession No. HQ712065) shares 99.54% similarity with the reference strain and has the most similar virtual RFLP pattern to the one of the 16SrV-C subgroup (GenBank Accession No. AY197642). These findings are currently limited to vineyards in northwestern Croatia. Even so, the presence of FD principal cicadellid vector Scaphoideus titanus in the country and the occurrence and distribution of FD in neighboring countries (1,2) are factors indicating that the spread of FD in Croatia is highly probable. References: (1) L. Filippin et al. Plant Pathol. 58:826, 2009. (2) S. Kuzmanović et al. Vitis 47:105, 2008. (3) C. Pelletier et al. Vitis 48:87, 2009. (4) Y. Zhao et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 59:2582, 2009.

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Silencing of ATP Synthase β Impairs Egg Development in the Leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, Vector of the Phytoplasma Associated with Grapevine Flavescence Dorée

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms23020765 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 765

Author(s):

Matteo Ripamonti ◽

Luca Cerone ◽

Simona Abbà ◽

Marika Rossi ◽

Sara Ottati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atp Synthase ◽

Cathepsin L ◽

Field Application ◽

Female Sterility ◽

Model Species ◽

Egg Development ◽

Flavescence Dorée ◽

Vector Population ◽

Regulatory Constraints ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus

Scaphoideus titanus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the natural vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, a quarantine pest of grapevine with severe impact on European viticulture. RNA interference (RNAi) machinery components are present in S. titanus transcriptome and injection of ATP synthase β dsRNAs into adults caused gene silencing, starting three days post injection (dpi) up to 20 dpi, leading to decrease cognate protein. Silencing of this gene in the closely related leafhopper Euscelidiusvariegatus previously showed female sterility and lack of mature eggs in ovaries. Here, alteration of developing egg morphology in S. titanus ovaries as well as overexpression of hexamerin transcript (amino acid storage protein) and cathepsin L protein (lysosome proteinase) were observed in dsATP-injected females. To evaluate RNAi-specificity, E.variegatus was used as dsRNA-receiving model-species. Different doses of two sets of dsRNA-constructs targeting distinct portions of ATP synthase β gene of both species induced silencing, lack of egg development, and female sterility in E. variegatus, indicating that off-target effects must be evaluated case by case. The effectiveness of RNAi in S. titanus provides a powerful tool for functional genomics of this non-model species and paves the way toward RNAi-based strategies to limit vector population, despite several technical and regulatory constraints that still need to be overcome to allow open field application.

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Reproductive strategy of the Nearctic leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485308006408 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 99 (4) ◽

pp. 401-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Valerio Mazzoni ◽

Janez Prešern ◽

Andrea Lucchi ◽

Meta Virant-Doberlet

Keyword(s):

Mating Behaviour ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Dominant Frequency ◽

Pair Formation ◽

Laser Vibrometer ◽

Alternative Tactics ◽

Flavescence Dorée ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus ◽

Vibrational Signals ◽

Male Signals

AbstractMating behaviour of Scaphoideus titanus Ball, the vector of the grapevine disease Flavescence dorée, was investigated in order to determine the role of substrate-borne vibrational signals in intra-specific communication and pair formation. Vibrational signals were recorded from grapevine leaves with a laser vibrometer. Signalling activity of single males changed throughout the day and the peak in activity was associated with twilight and early night when ‘call and fly’ behaviour was observed. Pair formation began with the spontaneous emission of male signals. The male calling signal consisted of a single series of pulses, partially accompanied with a ‘rumble’. The male courtship phrase consisted of four consecutive sections characterized by two sound elements, pulse and ‘buzz’. Female vibrational signals were emitted only in response to male signals. The female response was a single pulse that closely resembled male pulses and was inserted between pulses within the male signals. All recorded vibrational signals of S. titanus have a dominant frequency below 900 Hz. A unique feature of vibrational communication in S. titanus is well-developed intrasexual competition; males may use alternative tactics, in the form of disturbance signals, or silently approach duetting females (satellite behaviour). While the male-female duet appears to be essential for successful localization of females and copulation, it is also vulnerable to, and easily disrupted by, alternative tactics like masking.

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Identification and Epidemic Distribution of Two Flavescence Dorée—Related Phytoplasmas in Veneto (Italy)

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.1999.83.10.925 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 83 (10) ◽

pp. 925-930 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Marta Martini ◽

Ermanno Murari ◽

Nicola Mori ◽

Assunta Bertaccini

Keyword(s):

16S Rdna ◽

Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽

The European Union ◽

Direct Pcr ◽

Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Flavescence Dorée ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Elm Yellows ◽

Infected Grapevine

Grapevine yellows associated with phytoplasmas of the elm yellows group (16SrV), better known as flavescence dorée (FD), is a serious quarantine problem in some important grapevine growing regions in the European Union. A survey was carried out in 1997 to 1998 in Veneto region (Italy) where a serious outbreak of FD was in progress. Phytoplasma identification by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses on 275 grapevine samples and on batches of Scaphoideus titanus was carried out. RFLP analyses of the 16S rDNA/spacer region with TaqI detected the presence of two distinct elm yellows phytoplasma subgroups designated 16SrV-C and 16SrV-D in 77 FD-infected grapevine samples. Only phytoplasmas of the 16SrV-D subgroup were detected in S. titanus. In 1997, the two phytoplasma subgroups appeared to be located in two diverse geographic areas; but in 1998, the 16SrV-D type also was detected in the provinces where in 1997 only 16SrV-C type was identified. The sequencing of a 400-bp fragment at the 3′ end of 16S rDNA plus spacer region allowed a specific primer construction that was successfully employed for detection of both FD types in grapevine by direct PCR.

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Occurrence of Scaphoideus titanus Ball and some other Auchenorrhyncha in the vineyards of western Slovakia

Plant Protection Science ◽

10.17221/40/2016-pps ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 53 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 96-100

Author(s):

Tancik Ján ◽

Seljak Gabriel

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

National Strategy ◽

Bois Noir ◽

Potential Vector ◽

Flavescence Dorée ◽

First Finding ◽

Scaphoideus Titanus ◽

Phytoplasma Vector ◽

Wine Region ◽

And Control

A study of Auchenorrhyncha was carried out in 2014 and 2015 in 7 vineyard plots with different varieties and pest management strategies in the Nitra wine region and Lesser Carpathian wine region in western Slovakia. The aim of this study was to obtain information related to the presence of potential vector insects associated with grapevine yellows phytoplasmas from the Flavescence dorée and Bois noir groups. Insects were collected by sweeping with an entomological net. Thirty species of Auchenorrhyncha were identified as belonging to 6 families. Cicadellidae were the most abundant, comprising 20 species. Scaphoideus titanus was collected at 4 localities. Identification of the phytoplasma vector is critical to the national strategy for assessment and control of vectors spreading the phytoplasma disease in Slovakian vineyards. The first finding of Metcalfa pruinosa was noticed in vineyards in Slovakia.

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