Articles
Isolation and molecular detection of potato stolbur phytoplasma
Article number
1391_56
Pages
407 – 412
Language
English
Abstract
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) crop is one of the most important in Romania, being an essential food and income source for the population.
Stolbur is among the plant diseases affecting the potato crop in the southern regions of the country.
Stolbur disease has been observed in potato and vegetable crops since the 1950s when its etiology was attributed to viruses.
Shortly after, the vector role of the insect species Hyalesthes obsoletus in disease epidemiology was found.
The aim of this study was: i) to identify insect species from the family Cixiidae present in a potato crop in Southern Romania that are able to transmit the phytoplasma Ca. P. solani to Catharantus roseus test plants; ii) to detect the phytoplasma infecting the insects through molecular methods.
Two species of Cixiidae were collected, H. obsoletus and Reptalus quinquecostatus, using yellow sticky traps and sweep netting on bindweed in the crop.
Out of the two species, R. quinquecostatus was found to be more abundant.
The insects collected during the months of June and July were used in the experimental transmissions with C. roseus test plants in conditions of isolation in the laboratory.
A month after the inoculation, some of plants showed symptoms specific to phytoplasma infection, yellowing of the leaves, small flowers with reduced and green petals (virescence) and the subsequent turning of the petals into green sepals similar to leaves (phyllody). The presence of Ca. P. solani was detected in samples of petioles and veins of the affected periwinkles through PCR molecular tests.
Stolbur is among the plant diseases affecting the potato crop in the southern regions of the country.
Stolbur disease has been observed in potato and vegetable crops since the 1950s when its etiology was attributed to viruses.
Shortly after, the vector role of the insect species Hyalesthes obsoletus in disease epidemiology was found.
The aim of this study was: i) to identify insect species from the family Cixiidae present in a potato crop in Southern Romania that are able to transmit the phytoplasma Ca. P. solani to Catharantus roseus test plants; ii) to detect the phytoplasma infecting the insects through molecular methods.
Two species of Cixiidae were collected, H. obsoletus and Reptalus quinquecostatus, using yellow sticky traps and sweep netting on bindweed in the crop.
Out of the two species, R. quinquecostatus was found to be more abundant.
The insects collected during the months of June and July were used in the experimental transmissions with C. roseus test plants in conditions of isolation in the laboratory.
A month after the inoculation, some of plants showed symptoms specific to phytoplasma infection, yellowing of the leaves, small flowers with reduced and green petals (virescence) and the subsequent turning of the petals into green sepals similar to leaves (phyllody). The presence of Ca. P. solani was detected in samples of petioles and veins of the affected periwinkles through PCR molecular tests.
Authors
C. Chireceanu, R.-V. Mustățea, A. Teodoru
Keywords
periwinkle, insect vectors, Hyalesthes obsoletus, Reptalus quinquecostatus
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