New insights on the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ transmission by Neoaliturus fenestratus (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)

Abstract

Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schäffer 1834) is a polyphagous leafhopper widespread throughout Europe, particularly in ruderal habitats, i.e., abandoned fields, vineyards, and sparsely vegetated meadows, commonly associated with different plants of the family Asteraceae (Nickel 2003). Neoaliturus fenestratus is confirmed to transmit the safflower phyllody associated with phytoplasmas from the 16SrI-B subgroup (Raccah & Klein 1982), Picris hieracioides bushy stunt caused by phytoplasma from the 16SrII-E subgroup (Mitrović et al. 2012), lettuce phyllody and wild lettuce phyllody associated with phytoplasmas belonging to the 16SrIX group (Salehi et al. 2007), and chicory phyllody phytoplasma of the 16SrIX-C subgroup (Ermacora et al. 2013). Furthermore, Mitrović et al. (2019) experimentally confirmed its vector role in transmitting 'Ca. P. solani' of the 16SrXII-A subgroup to lettuce and carrot. In this study, N. fenestratus was investigated for its capacity to transmit the 'Ca. P. solani' to grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and native plants commonly found in and/or around vineyards in Serbia (Convolvulus arvensis, Calendula officinalis, Chenopodium album, and P. hieracioides).