Phytoplasmas in carrots: disease and potential vectors in Serbia

The prevalent presence of aster yellows phytoplasmas belonging to the subgroup 16SrI-A together with the presence of samples infected with phytoplasmas belonging to the subgroups 16SrI-B and 16SrXII-A is described in Serbian carrot fields where a low level of epidemic was present. Among nine leafhopper and treehopper species captured and identified in the carrot fields, three species, Macrosteles quadripunctuhtus (Kirschbaum), Macrosteles sexnotatus (Fallen), and Macrosteles laevis (Ribaut) were tested positive for the same phytoplasmas identified in the infected plant samples, therefore are potential vector species of these phytoplasmas. In particular M. quadripunctuhtus and M. sexnotatus specimens were positive for aster yellows phytoplasmas, while a M. laevis specimen was positive for stolbur phytoplasmas.