Hosts of stolbur phytoplasmas in maize redness affected fields

Abstract

The plant host range of a phytoplasma is strongly dependent on the host range of its insect vector. Maize redness in Serbia is caused by stolbur phytoplasma (subgroup 16SrXII-A) and is transmitted by the cixiid planthoper, Reptalus panzeri (Low). R. panzeri was the only potential vector found to be infected with stolbur phytoplasm in and around maize redness affected fields, and the phytoplasma was only found in monocotyledonous plants including maize, Johnsongrass, and wheat. Other known stolbur phytoplasma vectors and weedy plant hosts tested were not infected. These results are discussed with respect to potential differentiation of the pathogen in different host-vector systems.