PANTOEA SP. - AN ASSOCIATED BACTERIA COMMON IN GRAPE PHYLLOXERA (DAKTULOSPHAIRA VITIFOLIAE FITCH)

Grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) lack intracellular symbionts but the leaf-galling form seems to be associated with a microbial species: Pantoea agglomerans. A single bacterial species, closely related to P. agglomerans was identified in adult asexual individuals, their eggs and leaf gall tissue of several grape phylloxera populations, as confirmed by 16S sequences analysis. Bacteria revealed to be culturable on standard nutrient media. The type of association between the bacteria identified and grape phylloxera remains unknown and is discussed.