Potential psyllid vectors of Candidatus phytoplasma mali and Candidatus phytoplasma pyri in Turkey

Abstract

Psyllids are vectors of phytoplasma, which cause important diseases of pome fruit trees. Psyllid species reported as phytoplasma vectors were captured during 2010–2011 in several pome fruit growing regions in Turkey. Potential psyllid vectors of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ were collected from Malus spp. (apple), Cydonia oblonga (quince), Crataegus spp. (hawthorn) and also from the overwintering hosts, whereas those of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ were collected from wild and cultured forms of Pyrus spp. (pear) trees. The psyllids were identified morphologically as Cacopsylla picta, C. melanoneura-C. affinis complex, C. crataegi, C. pyrisuga, C. pyri, C. pyricola and other Cacopsylla species. The highest natural phytoplasma infection rate was found in C. picta followed by C. pyri, C. melanoneura-C. affinis complex and C. crataegi with rates of 4.36, 3.84, 2.77 and 1.67%, respectively. No phytoplasma were detected in C. pyrisuga, C. pyricola, or the other Cacopsylla spp. ‘Ca. P. mali’ was detected in C. picta, C. melanoneura-C. affinis complex and C. pyri; ‘Ca. P. pyri’ was detected in C. picta, C. crataegi, C. melanoneura-C. affinis complex and C. pyri individuals. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the possible psyllid vectors of ‘Ca. P. mali’ in Turkey.