1Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Bologna, Italy
2Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Surveys in and nearby vineyards in some Italian provinces were carried out to detect alternative host plants and possible insect vectors of phytoplasmas detected in grapevines. Aster yellows is the prevalent phytoplasma detected in both beside the 16SrXII-A and 16SrV-C phytoplasmas. Moreover other phytoplasmas belonging to diverse ribosomal groups were identified indicating a relevant epidemiological role of spontaneous vegetation and possible new insect vectors in the grapevine yellows.
Phytoplasma detection, insects vectors, spontaneous plants, grapevine yellows, epidemiology
