Molecular detection and transmission of sugarcane white leaf Phytoplasma in leafhoppers(Thai)

Abstract

Leafhopper species in sugarcane fields at Udon Thani province were investigated for sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma using Nested PCR. A 210 base pair amplified DNA fragment of phytoplasma associated with sugarcane white leaf disease was detected from twelve species of leafhoppers (Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus, Exitianus indicus, Yamatotettix flavovittatus, Recilia sp., Recilia distinctus, Balclutha sp., Xestocephalus sp., Bhatia olivacea, Recilia dorsalis, Macrosteles striifrons, Thaia oryzivora and Balclutha rubrostriata). To determine the vectors status, the mechanism of disease transmission of phytoplasma from sugarcane white leaf plant to healthy plants was investigated by using three leafhoppers species (M. hiroglyphicus, E. indicus and Y. flavovittatus). The result showed that both leahoppers M. hiroglyphicus and Y. flavovittatus, but not E. indicus, can transmit sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma to healthy sugarcane plants. The transmission efficiency of M. hiroglyphicus was 10-55% with an acquisition period at least 3 h while percentage of disease transmission in Y. flavovittatus was 5-45% with at least 24 h acquisition period.