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Diversity of Phytoplasmas Infecting Fruit Trees and Their Vectors in Croatia

Diversität von Obstbaum infizierenden Phytoplasmen und ihren Vektoren in Kroatien

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Abstract

A survey started in 2002 (Križanac et al. 2008) was continued to determine the diversity of phytoplasmas infecting fruit trees and their vectors in Croatia. Leaf and twig samples from 32 commercial orchards located in all major fruit growing regions of Croatia, were visually inspected for symptoms and tested for the presence of the phytoplasma 16S rDNA as were adjacent symptomless wild Prunus species, and potential insect vectors from seven orchards. Phytoplasmas belonging to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ and ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ (riboso-mal subgroups 16SrX-C and 16SrX-B, respectively) were the most widespread and had the highest incidence in pears and stone fruits, respectively. ‘Ca. P. asteris’ (16SrI-B) was found sporadically in both fruit trees and vectors, while phytoplas-mas of the stolbur group (16SrXII-A) was frequently found in pear. Mixed infections were detected in one pear and one Japanese plum. The high incidence and wide geographical distribution of stolbur phytoplasma in pears along with its presence in Cacopsyla pyri, the main vector of pear phytoplasma, calls for investigation of the role of this phytoplasma in the development of pear decline in Croatia. Cacopsylla pyrisuga, a suspected ‘Ca. P. pyri’ psyllid vector, was also found to harbour stolbur phytoplasma. This study revealed higher phytoplasma diversity in fruit trees and vectors than anticipated.

Zusammenfassung

In Kroatien wurde, in Fortsetzung eines 2002 begonnenen Projektes (Križanac et al. 2008), die Diversität Obstbaum infizierender Phytoplasmen und ihrer Vektoren untersucht. Blätter und Zweige von insgesamt 32 kommerziell geführten Obstanlagen aus allen Obstbaugebieten des Landes wurden im Sommer und Herbst visuell hinsichtlich ihrer Symptome untersucht. Ebenfalls wurde das Material — ebenso wie Proben von benachbarten, symptomlosen wilden Prunus-Arten und Insekten aus sieben Obstanlagen — auf das Vorkommen von 16 rDNA getestet. Phytoplasmen, die den Untergruppen 16SrX-C und 16SrX-B (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ und ‘Ca. P. prunorum’) angehören, waren am weitesten verbreitet mit dem höchsten Befall an Birnenbäumen und Steinfrüchten. ‘Ca. P. asteris’ (16SrI-B) wurde sporadisch sowohl in Obstbäumen als auch in den Vektoren gefunden, während Phytoplasmen der Stolbur-Gruppe (16SrXII-A) nur gelegentlich in Birnen nachgewiesen werden konnten. Mischinfektionen wurden einmal in Pyrus communis und einmal in einer japanischen Prunus-Art nachgewiesen. Hoher Befall und weite geographische Verbreitung von Stolbur-Phytoplasmen (16SrXII-A) konnte in Birnen und dem Hauptvektor Cacopsyla pyri gezeigt werden. Außerdem konnte Cacopsylla pyrisuga als Vektor für Stolbur-Phytoplasmen nachgewiesen werden. Die Untersuchungen ergaben insgesamt eine höhere Diversität an Phytoplasmen in Obstbäumen als erwartet wurde.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Plant Protection, HCPHS, Svetošimunska 25, Zagreb, Croatia

    I. Križanac, I. Mikec & Ž. Budinščak

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia

    M. Šeruga Musić & D. Škorić

Authors
  1. I. Križanac
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  2. I. Mikec
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  3. Ž. Budinščak
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  4. M. Šeruga Musić
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  5. D. Škorić
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Correspondence to D. Škorić.

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Križanac, I., Mikec, I., Budinščak, Ž. et al. Diversity of Phytoplasmas Infecting Fruit Trees and Their Vectors in Croatia. J Plant Dis Prot 117, 206–213 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03356362

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