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Transmission of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI) by Osbornellus horvathi (Matsumura 1908) co-infected with “Ca. Phytoplasma phoenicium” (16SrIX)

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 November 2016

Abstract

High population levels of Osbornellus horvathi (Matsumura 1908) in Mediterranean natural environments and our previous findings of adults infected by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’, in Sicily in 2012, highlight the potential role of this species as a phytoplasma vector. In the present work, O. horvathi and other Auchenorrhyncha species were collected using sticky traps between May-October of 2013 in a natural area in Sicily. The insects were analyzed for phytoplasma detection and characterization. Among the 20 Auchenorrhyncha species collected, only O. horvathi was positive for phytoplasmas. Phytoplasma transmission to periwinkle and broad bean plants by field-collected phytoplasma-infected O. horvathi individuals was also carried out. The number and composition of Auchenorrhyncha populations in the area were described together with information on the biology of O. horvathi. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ was successfully transmitted to broad bean and periwinkle by field-collected ‘Ca. P. asteris’ and ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’ double-infected O. horvathi, thus highlighting its vector competence for the former phytoplasma. Further studies are required to assess the ability of O. horvathi to transmit ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Regione Sicilia (Assessorato Regionale delle Risorse Agricole e Alimentari, Servizio 5 Fitosanitario Regionale), within the project ‘Individuazione di focolai del fitoplasma (16SrRNA V) agente causale della Flavescenza dorata della vite’. We would like to thank Prof. Domenico Bosco (DISAFA, University of Turin) for his critical reading of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Section Plant Pathology, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy

    Rizza Serena, Pesce Antonella & Matilde Tessitori

  2. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section Animal Biology, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124, Catania, Italy

    D’Urso Vera

  3. Sicilian Region, Plant Protection Service, Via Sclafani 32, 95024, Acireale, Italy

    Raciti Ernesto

  4. Insitute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, Torino, Italy

    Marzachì Cristina & Matilde Tessitori

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  1. Rizza Serena
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  2. Pesce Antonella
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Correspondence to Matilde Tessitori.

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An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12600-016-0555-9.

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Serena, R., Antonella, P., Vera, D. et al. Transmission of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI) by Osbornellus horvathi (Matsumura 1908) co-infected with “Ca. Phytoplasma phoenicium” (16SrIX). Phytoparasitica 44, 491–500 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-016-0545-y

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