Can polyphagous insect vectors contribute to phytoplasma inventory in diverse ecosystems?

Populations of the polyphagous leafhopper Euscelis incisus were screened for natural phytoplasma infection during a period of three years on eight locations in distinct areas of Serbia. Identification and molecular characterization of phytoplasma strains harboured by in-field collected E. incisus on diverse habitat types was performed by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, ribosomal protein genes rpl22-rps3, tuf, secY, stamp and vmp1 genes. Presence of six distinct ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species was detected in a total of the 8% of the collected E. i ncisus specimens suggesting their tentativerole in diverse epidemiological cycles and ecosystems.