Repellent strategy to avoid transmission of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ by its vector Cacopsylla picta

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Jarausch ◽  
Barbara Jarausch
Keyword(s):  
Cacopsylla Picta ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali

scholarly journals Identification of Plant DNA in Adults of the Phytoplasma Vector Cacopsylla picta Helps Understanding Its Feeding Behavior

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Dana Barthel ◽  
Hannes Schuler ◽  
Jonas Galli ◽  
Luigimaria Borruso ◽  
Jacob Geier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Herbaceous Plant ◽  
Plant Dna ◽  
Cacopsylla Picta ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali ◽  
Deep Sequencing Technology ◽  
Phytoplasma Vector ◽  
Plant Families ◽  
Phloem Feeding

Apple proliferation is an economically important disease and a threat for commercial apple cultivation. The causative pathogen, the bacterium ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’, is mainly transmitted by Cacopsylla picta, a phloem-feeding insect that develops on the apple tree (Malus spp.). To investigate the feeding behavior of adults of the phytoplasma vector Cacopsylla picta in more detail, we used deep sequencing technology to identify plant-specific DNA ingested by the insect. Adult psyllids were collected in different apple orchards in the Trentino-South Tyrol region of northern Italy. DNA from the whole body of the insect was extracted and analyzed for the presence of plant DNA by performing PCR with two plant-specific primers that target the chloroplast regions trnH-psbA and rbcLa. DNA from 23 plant genera (trnH) and four plant families (rbcLa) of woody and herbaceous plant taxa was detected. Up to six and three plant genera and families, respectively, could be determined in single specimens. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the feeding behavior of adult Cacopsylla picta.

scholarly journals The insect vector Cacopsylla picta vertically transmits the bacterium ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ to its progeny

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mittelberger ◽  
L. Obkircher ◽  
S. Oettl ◽  
T. Oppedisano ◽  
F. Pedrazzoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insect Vector ◽  
Cacopsylla Picta ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali

scholarly journals The phytopathogen ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ alters apple tree phloem composition and affects oviposition behavior of its vector Cacopsylla picta

Chemoecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Maria Görg ◽  
Jannicke Gallinger ◽  
Jürgen Gross
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Oviposition Behavior ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Soluble Sugar ◽  
Amino Acid Content ◽  
Cacopsylla Picta ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali ◽  
Induced Changes

Abstract Apple proliferation disease is caused by the phloem-dwelling bacterium ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’, inducing morphological changes in its host plant apple, such as witches’ broom formation. Furthermore, it triggers physiological alterations like emission of volatile organic compounds or phytohormone levels in the plant. In our study, we assessed phytoplasma-induced changes in the phloem by sampling phloem sap from infected and non-infected apple plants. In infected plants, the soluble sugar content increased and the composition of phloem metabolites differed significantly between non-infected and infected plants. Sugar and sugar alcohol levels increased in diseased plants, while organic and amino acid content remained constant. As ‘Ca. P. mali’ is vectored by the phloem-feeding insect Cacopsylla picta (Foerster, 1848), we assessed whether the insect–plant interaction was affected by ‘Ca. P. mali’ infection of the common host plant Malus domestica Borkh. Binary-choice oviposition bioassays between infected and non-infected apple leaves revealed C. picta’s preference for non-infected leaves. It is assumed and discussed that the changes in vector behavior are attributable to plant-mediated effects of the phytoplasma infection.

scholarly journals Characteristics of the Spread of Apple Proliferation by Its Vector Cacopsylla picta

2011 ◽  
Vol 101 (12) ◽  
pp. 1471-1480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Jarausch ◽  
Nora Schwind ◽  
Annette Fuchs ◽  
Wolfgang Jarausch
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Natural Infection ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Apple Proliferation ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Northern Switzerland ◽  
Cacopsylla Picta ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali

The distribution and natural phytoplasma infection of Cacopsylla picta were investigated during a long-term field survey between 2002 and 2009 in commercial and abandoned apple proliferation-infected orchards throughout Germany, northern Switzerland, and eastern France. Comparable population dynamics were described for the different sites whereas considerable variations in the absolute population densities were observed among the years. Individual polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing revealed, for each year, a rather stable natural infection rate with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ of ≈10% for overwintered adults of C. picta. Both genders were equally highly infected although more females were caught. The overall male/female ratio was 1:1.5. No direct correlation was found between the infection status of the orchard and the infection rate of overwintered C. picta. No influence of agricultural practices was seen. However, a relationship between the incidence of the disease and the vector population density became evident on a regional scale. Successful transmission of ‘Ca. P. mali’ occurred each year with overwintered individuals as well as with new adults. The transmission efficiency varied among the years within 8 to 45% for overwintered adults and 2 to 20% for individuals of the new generation. The load of single C. picta with ‘Ca. P. mali’ was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. High phytoplasma titers were measured in overwintered adults already at their first appearance in the orchards after remigration from their overwintering hosts. Thus, the data indicate the transmission of the disease on a regional scale by remigrant adults of C. picta and at a local scale within the same season by emigrant adults which developed on infected plants.

scholarly journals Surveying Potential Vectors of Apple Proliferation Phytoplasma: Faunistic Analysis and Infection Status of Selected Auchenorrhyncha Species

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Stefanie Fischnaller ◽  
Martin Parth ◽  
Manuel Messner ◽  
Robert Stocker ◽  
Christine Kerschbamer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Insect Vectors ◽  
Infection Status ◽  
Apple Proliferation ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
South Tyrol ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali ◽  
Cacopsylla Melanoneura

Apple proliferation (AP) is one of the economically most important diseases in European apple cultivation. The disease is caused by the cell-wall-less bacterium ’ Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’, which is transmitted by Cacopsylla picta (Foerster) and Cacopsylla melanoneura (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). In South Tyrol (Italy), severe outbreaks were documented since the 1990s. Infestation rates of AP do not always correlate with the population densities of the confirmed vectors, implying the presence of other, so far unknown, hemipterian vectors. By elucidating the species community of Auchenorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera) at a regional scale, more than 31,000 specimens were captured in South Tyrolean apple orchards. The occurrence of 95 species was confirmed, whereas fourteen species are new records for this territory. Based on the faunistical data, more than 3600 individuals out of 25 species were analyzed using quantitative PCR to assess the presence of AP phytoplasma. The pathogen was sporadically detected in some individuals of different species, for example in Stictocephala bisonia Kopp and Yonk (Hemiptera: Membracidae). However, the concentration of phytoplasma was much lower than in infected C. picta and C. melanoneura captured in the same region, confirming the role of the latter mentioned psyllids as the main insect vectors of AP- phytoplasma in South Tyrol.

scholarly journals Temporal Dynamics of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma mali’ Load in the Insect Vector Cacopsylla melanoneura

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 592
Author(s):  
Valentina Candian ◽  
Monia Monti ◽  
Rosemarie Tedeschi
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali ◽  
High Infection ◽  
Cacopsylla Melanoneura

The transmission of phytoplasmas is the result of an intricate interplay involving pathogens, insect vectors and host plants. Knowledge of the vector’s competence during its lifespan allows us to define more sustainable well-timed control strategies targeted towards the most worrisome life stages. We investigated the temporal dynamics of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ load in Cacopsylla melanoneura in the different developmental stages in Northwest Italy. The phytoplasma load in the vector was evaluated in overwintering adults, nymphs and newly emerged adults after different acquisition access periods. Moreover, we followed the multiplication of the phytoplasma during the aestivation and the overwintering period on conifers. Our results confirmed the ability of remigrants to retain the phytoplasma until the end of winter. We also highlighted the high acquisition efficiency and vector competence, based on phytoplasma load, of nymphs and newly emerged adults. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to the management of overwintered C. melanoneura as soon as they return to the orchards, but also to newly emerged adults, particularly in orchards with a high infection rate and when the migration to conifers is delayed.

Candidatus Phytoplasma mali. [Distribution map].

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Malus Domestica ◽  
Distribution Map ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Candidatus Phytoplasma Mali ◽  
Main Host ◽  
Southern Russia ◽  
New Distribution ◽  
Distribution In Europe

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Candidatus Phytoplasma mali. Mollicutes: Acholeplasmatales: Acholeplasmataceae. Main host: apple (Malus domestica). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Europe (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Mainland Greece, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Southern Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, England and Wales, Ukraine), Asia (Syria, Turkey), Africa (Tunisia).

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