*Corresponding author e-mail: Jelena Jovic (jovic_biolab@yahoo.com; jelena.jovic@izbis.bg.ac.rs)
Hyalesthes obsoletus, a major vector of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ is considered as a polyphagous species associated with diverse wild host-plants. A recent study performed in southeastern Europe documented genetic differentiation among host-plant associations of H. obsoletus, while numerous data are pointing to specialized plant-associated epidemiological cycle of ‘Ca. P. solani’. Hence, based on the mitochondrial COI gene sequences, a method for routine identification of plantspecialized vector populations and epidemiological routes of pathogen transmission were developed and verified.
COI gene, epidemiology, genetic segregation, host-plant, insect vector, molecular identification
