Detection of the auchenorrhyncha fauna associated with grapevine displaying yellows symptoms in Romania

Abstract

A study on the Auchenorrhyncha insects was performed in 2009 in Romanian commercial vine plots with different varieties and pest control intensities from Murfatlar, Banu Maracine and Blaj viticultural regions and in an untreated neglected plot near Bucharest exhibiting symptoms of yellowing or reddening. The aim of this study was to obtain information related to the presence of the potential vector insects associated with the grapevine yellows type-diseases symptoms from Flavescene doree and Bois noir groups. Insects were sampled using yellow sticky traps. In the course of identifying potential phytoplasma vectors in vineyards, 21 species of leafhoppers and planthoppers were identified. Included in these are two very important vectors of phytoplasma throughout Europe: Hyalesthes obsoletus and Scaphoideus titanus.While H. obsoletus were only captured in low numbers, S. titanus was captured in higher numbers and showed two distinct population peaks throughout the growing season. Identification of phytoplasm...