Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies multiplex from naturally infected to healthy Rhamnus alaternus by Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris
{"title":"Transmission of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies multiplex from naturally infected to healthy Rhamnus alaternus by Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris","authors":"Anita Nencioni, Elisabetta Gargani, Agostino Strangi, Domenico Rizzo, Immacolata Iovinella, Patrizia Sacchetti, Pio Federico Roversi, Ilaria Cutino","doi":"10.1007/s10340-024-01775-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Europe, the recently reported plant pathogen <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i> subsp. <i>multiplex</i> affects several wild, ornamental, and cultivated trees causing scorch diseases. In 2018, the sequence type 87 was reported in Tuscany on Mediterranean shrubs and trees. Although spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) were already identified as main vectors of this bacterium in Europe, their role in the transmission of this subspecies has not been ascertained yet. In this study the ability of <i>Philaenus spumarius</i> and <i>Neophilaenus campestris</i> to acquire and transmit <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i> subsp. <i>multiplex</i> sequence type 87 from and to <i>Rhamnus alaternus</i> was evaluated in two-year semi-field experiments. To acquire the bacterium, insects were confined on wild, naturally infected <i>R. alaternus</i> shrubs for 120 h. Then, they were transferred to healthy plants and maintained in cages for 96 h. To follow the infection, plant samples were collected every two months for three times. Tested plants were destroyed at the end of experiments and roots, twigs and leaves were analysed. <i>Philaenus spumarius</i> showed a significantly higher survival rate than <i>N. campestris</i>. The infection status of both insects and plants was assessed through molecular analysis. <i>P. spumarius</i> and <i>N. campestris</i> were able to infect healthy plants although the acquisition rate and the estimated probability of transmission appeared to be low. These findings provide new accounts on the role of two polyphagous insect vectors in spreading a quarantine organism, which is lethal to a huge number of plant species. However, further studies are needed to disclose more specific interactions within this complex pathosystem.</p>","PeriodicalId":16736,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pest Science","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Pest Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-024-01775-0","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In Europe, the recently reported plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex affects several wild, ornamental, and cultivated trees causing scorch diseases. In 2018, the sequence type 87 was reported in Tuscany on Mediterranean shrubs and trees. Although spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) were already identified as main vectors of this bacterium in Europe, their role in the transmission of this subspecies has not been ascertained yet. In this study the ability of Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris to acquire and transmit Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex sequence type 87 from and to Rhamnus alaternus was evaluated in two-year semi-field experiments. To acquire the bacterium, insects were confined on wild, naturally infected R. alaternus shrubs for 120 h. Then, they were transferred to healthy plants and maintained in cages for 96 h. To follow the infection, plant samples were collected every two months for three times. Tested plants were destroyed at the end of experiments and roots, twigs and leaves were analysed. Philaenus spumarius showed a significantly higher survival rate than N. campestris. The infection status of both insects and plants was assessed through molecular analysis. P. spumarius and N. campestris were able to infect healthy plants although the acquisition rate and the estimated probability of transmission appeared to be low. These findings provide new accounts on the role of two polyphagous insect vectors in spreading a quarantine organism, which is lethal to a huge number of plant species. However, further studies are needed to disclose more specific interactions within this complex pathosystem.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Pest Science publishes high-quality papers on all aspects of pest science in agriculture, horticulture (including viticulture), forestry, urban pests, and stored products research, including health and safety issues.
Journal of Pest Science reports on advances in control of pests and animal vectors of diseases, the biology, ethology and ecology of pests and their antagonists, and the use of other beneficial organisms in pest control. The journal covers all noxious or damaging groups of animals, including arthropods, nematodes, molluscs, and vertebrates.
Journal of Pest Science devotes special attention to emerging and innovative pest control strategies, including the side effects of such approaches on non-target organisms, for example natural enemies and pollinators, and the implementation of these strategies in integrated pest management.
Journal of Pest Science also publishes papers on the management of agro- and forest ecosystems where this is relevant to pest control. Papers on important methodological developments relevant for pest control will be considered as well.