Identification of phytoplasmas and Auchenorryncha in Tunisian vineyards

Abstract

To verify the risk that plant pathogens such as phytoplasmas could have been introduced with infected propagation material, a preliminary investigation for the presence of phytoplasmas and their insect vectors in the main Tunisian viticultural regions was carried out. To identify phytoplasmas and leafhopper fauna several survey have been carried out on grapevine and spontaneous plant species in the main grapevine growing regions of Tunisia, i.e. Rafraf, Baddar, Mraissa, Belli, Gobba, and Bousalem. A total of 1,109 insect specimens were collected and 30 species were identified, 25 Cicadomorpha and 5 Fulgoromorpha. The 82.58% of the leafhopper species recorded are reported either as vectors of viruses or of phytoplasmas or direct damaging pests, while the 17.49% remaining do not have an important role in field management. In some of the collected grapevine materials aster yellows phytoplasmas (16SrI-B) were identified, confirming previous reports.