Phytopathogenic Mollicutes
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 1

Potential insect vectors and alternative host plants of phytoplasmas inthe Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes in South Africa

  • Author:
  • Kerstin Krüger1,, Michael Stiller2, Gert Pietersen3, Dirk Johannes van Wyk1, Gerhard Pietersen4,5, Rochelle Janse van Rensburg4, Ronel Roberts6, Eleonora Satta7, Assunta Bertaccini7
  • Total Page Count: 2
  • Page Number: 197 to 198

1Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

2Biosystematics Division, ARC-Plant Protection Research, Queenswood, South Africa

3Patho Solutions, Pretoria, South Africa

4Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

5Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

6Plant Microbiology Division, Agricultural Research Council-Plant Protection Research, Pretoria, South Africa

7Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Bologna, Italy

*Corresponding author e-mail: Kerstin Krüger (kkruger@zoology.up.ac.za)

Online published on 25 July, 2019.

Abstract

Potential insect vectors and alternative host plants of the phytoplasmas associated with grapevine yellows (GY) were surveyed in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes in the Western Cape, South Africa. Aster yellows phytoplasma (16SrI-B), which has been reported infecting grapevine in three regions in the Western Cape, was identified in a plant species belonging to the Aizoaceae. Other phytoplasmas were detected from species belonging to the Brassicaceae, Montiniaceae, Proteaceae and Zygophyllaceae and in a few insect specimens. The information will be used to confirm the insect vector status and the role of the plant species identified as alternative host plants in controlled transmission experiments.

Keywords

Aster yellows phytoplasma, grapevine yellows, natural vegetation, epidemiology