Experimental and molecular evidence of Neoaliturus fenestratus role in the transmission of “stolbur” phytoplasma to lettuce and carrot plants

The vector status of the deltocephalinae leafhopper Neoaliturus fenestratus harbouring ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (“stolbur”) was tested in two separate transmission trials with seedlings of lettuce and carrot. In both tests, the leafhopper successfully transmitted the “stolbur” phytoplasma to the exposed plants, which expressed partial leaf discoloration and rolling and rapid plant desiccation. Molecular characterization of the stamp gene encoding the antigenic membrane protein determined the presence of three “stolbur” phytoplasma strains in field collected N. fenestratus and in the insect inoculated plants. The same genotypes of phytoplasma shared by the vector samples and the exposed lettuce and carrot seedlings confirm the ability of N. fenestratus to transmit the “stolbur” phytoplasma to the tested plants. These findings indicate a possible role of N. fenestratus in the epidemiology of the “stolbur” phytoplasma in vegetable crops.