Genetic variability of Scaphoideus titanus populations and a new host plant of 16SrV group phytoplasmas in Bosnia and Herzegovina

During surveys for “flavescence dorée” phytoplasma and Scaphoideus titanus presence in vineyards of the Republic of Srpska in 2018, the life cycle of the leafhopper and a genetic study of two populations present in northwest and southeast vineyards were examined. S. titanus nymphs and adults were monitored using yellow sticky traps. The first nymphs were found in the last week of May; adults occurred from the end of June to the end of October. A 623 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene showed a high dominance of the previously reported haplotype i. Nested PCR analyses on grapevine, Clematis, Ailanthus and Alnus species collected inside and outside the vineyards demonstrated the presence of a 16SrV group phytoplasma in one sample of A. altissima.