Molecular and morphological characterization of leafhoppers as vectors of sesame phyllody in Andhra Pradesh, India

Sesame phyllody is one of the major biotic constraints causing economic yield losses. It is mainly transmitted by leafhoppers. In 2021 “kharif” season, a survey was conducted in phyllody infected sesame fields at S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, India and insect samples were collected for morphological and molecular identification. Four diverse types of leafhoppers were identified based on morphological features and multiple sequence alignment of the COI gene, out of which Hishimonus phycitiswas identified as a potential vector for the sesame phyllody phytoplasma.