The first molecular analysis of samples collected in southern Backa (Serbia)
confirmed the presence of aster yellows (16SrI) and stolbur phytoplasmas
(16SrXII) in insects belonging to the family Cicadellidae, as well as in
carrot plants where the insects were collected. A correct identification of
the phytoplasmas and their vectors is essential to arrange effective control
strategies to prevent diseases associated with phytoplasmas from spreading to
carrots and other vegetable crops. In order to enhance knowledge about insect
vectors of aster yellows and stolbur phytoplasmas in Serbia, Cicadellidae and
Cixiidae (Homoptera Auchenorrhyncha), the most common vectors of these
phytoplasmas, were monitored in southern Backa during 2008. Adults leaf- and
planthoppers were collected and identified at species level using standard
entomological methods, and tested for phytoplasma presence by means of
PCR/RFLP. A total of 13 insect species of Cicadellidae were identified, as
follows: a) three species of the subfamily Agallinae: Anaceratagallia ribauti
(Ossiannilsson), Anaceratagallia venosa (Fourcroy), and Anaceratagallia
laevis (Ribaut); b) seven species of the subfamily Deltocephalinae:
Psammotettix confinis (Dahlbom), Psammotettix striatus (Linnaues)
Psammottettix alienus (Dahlbom), Macrosteles sexnotatus (Fall?n), Ophiola
decumana (Kontkanen), Errastunus ocellaris Fall?n, and Scaphoideus titanus
Ball; c) three species of the subfamily Typhlocibinae: Eupteryx atropunctata
(Goeze), Eupteryx mellissae Curtis, Zyginidia pullula (Boheman). Female
specimens of the genus Euscelis (Deltocephalinae) were also collected, as
well as one species of Reptalus quinquecostatus (Dufour) of the family
Cixiidae. Stolbur phytoplasmas were detected in A. laevis, A. ribauti, A.
venosa, P. striatus, P. confinis and P. alienus. The species: A. laevis, O.
decumana, and P. confinis were AY-infected (subgroup 16SrI-A), while subgroup
16SrI-C was found only in one specimen of P. confinis. Since some aster
yellows- and stolbur-infected species of the genera Psammotettix and
Anaceratagallia (especially P. confinis and A. laevis) were regularly and
commonly found in the infected carrot fields during the whole vegetative
period, they could play a significant role in transmitting and spreading
these pathogens in natural environment.