Association of Beet Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with a Clover Proliferation Group Phytoplasma in Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon

Abstract

At least 16 taxa of cicadellids and delphacids were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of a phytoplasma in the clover proliferation group, designated 16SrVI. Nucleic acid extracts from individual insects or groups of 5-10 were tested using PCR primers designed from the DNA sequence of 16S-23S rRNA or ribosomal protein genes of the pathogen. The beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus (Baker), was most often associated with the phytoplasma, with approximately 16% of the insects testing positive. The phytoplasma was occasionally found associated with Ceratagallia spp. Leafhopper species that were not associated with the phytoplasma included Macrosteles spp., Dikraneura spp., Colladonus montanus (Van Duzee), Circulifer geminatus (Van Duzee), Ballana spp., Amplysellus spp., Paraphlepsius spp., Texananus spp., Balclutha spp., Latalus spp., Erythroneura spp., Exitianus exitiosus (Uhler), and unidentified delphacids. The detected phytoplasma was similar to, or synonymous with, the beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence agent that is associated with the potato purple top disease in the Columbia Basin region of Washington and Oregon. This is in contrast to the phytoplasma associated with potato purple top disease in Mexico that is related to aster yellows (group 16SrI). The association of the group 16SrVI phytoplasma almost exclusively with the beet leafhopper suggests that this insect is the major vector of the phytoplasma in this region.

Leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) Associated with Potatoes in Alaska: Species Composition, Seasonal Abundance, and Potential Phytoplasma Vectors

“…In Oregon and Washington Balclutha spp. were not found associated with the Columbia Basin purple top phytoplasma (Crosslin et al 2005). However, the population density of this species is lower in Washington and Oregon (Munyaneza et al 2008) than the densities observed in our study (Table 1,.…”

“…Diseases caused by phytoplasmas have become increasingly important in the Pacific Northwest, with recent outbreaks of potato purple top disease in Washington and Oregon causing severe yield losses and reduction in tuber quality in potato (Crosslin et al 2005;Munyaneza et al 2006Munyaneza et al , 2007Munyaneza et al , 2008. In the Columbia Basin, the potato purple top disease is associated with the Columbia Basin purple top phytoplasma vectored by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus Baker (Lee et al 2004a;Crosslin et al 2005Crosslin et al , 2006Munyaneza et al , 2007; while in Mexico, and other potato producing areas of the USA, purple top is associated with aster leafhoppers in the genus Macrosteles (Hagel and Landis 1967;Hagel et al 1973;Bantari et al 1993;Goodwin et al 1999;Leyva et al 2002).…”

Potential damages, seasonal abundance and distribution of Empoasca terminalis Distant (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on soybean in South Sulawesi

“…This is similar to hopperburn symptoms on soybean inflicted by potato leafhopper, E. fabae (Hutchins & Pedigo 1990). In general, leafhoppers can also indirectly damage plants by transmitting plant pathogens such as phytoplasma on potato (Crosslin et al 2005;Munyaneza et al 2006) and viruses on rice (Hibino & Cabunagan 1986;Siwi & Suzuki 1991).…”

Susceptibility of Different Potato Cultivars to Purple Top Disease

“…It has been determined that the beet leafhoppertransmitted virescence agent (BLTVA) phytoplasma, also known as 'Columbia Basin potato purple top phytoplasma', is the causal agent of the disease in the Columbia Basin and that this pathogen is transmitted by the beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus (Lee et al 2004;Crosslin et al 2005;Munyaneza 2005;Munyaneza and Upton 2005;Munyaneza et al 2006Munyaneza et al , 2007aMunyaneza et al , 2008b. This is in contrast to potato purple top disease in the north central United States (Banttari et al 1993) and Mexico (Leyva-Lopez et al 2002) which is associated with the aster yellows phytoplasma and whose major vector is the aster leafhopper (Macrosteles spp.…”