Investigations on pear psyllids as vectors of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ in Austria

Abstract

Investigations of pear psyllids in four pear orchards in lower Austria showed the presence of Cacopsylla pyri, C. pyricola and C. pyrisuga at all locations. Overall, 5.3% of the C. pyri, 3.9% of the C. pyricola and 8% of the C. pyrisuga individuals carried the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’. In transmission experiments the three pear psyllid species were able to transmit the phytoplasma to healthy pear seedlings.