‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ and ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ in sugar beet in Germany and Switzerland

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (“stolbur” phytoplasma), associated with rubbery tap root disease (RTD), and ‘Ca. Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’, associated with “syndrome basses richesses” (SBR), were surveyed in sugar beet in eastern and southern Germany and Switzerland. ‘Ca. P. solani’ was more detected in eastern than in southern Germany. None of the samples from Switzerland tested positive. ‘Ca. A. phytopathogenicus’ was more frequently detected in southern Germany and Switzerland than eastern Germany. The results confirmed the observation that RTD is prevalent in the eastern part of Germany and SBR in the southern part of the country.