Monday, December 10, 2007
D0209

Survey of potential leafhopper vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in grape crops of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Rudiney Ringenberg, rudiney@esalq.usp.br1, Joao R. S. Lopes, jrslopes@pq.cnpq.br1, Marcos Botton, marcos@cnpuv.embrapa.br2, and Wilson S. Azevedo-Filho, azevedo@cnpuv.embrapa.br2. (1) University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, Entomology, Plant Pathology and Agricultural Zoology, Av. Padua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, (2) Embrapa Uva e Vinho, Caixa Postal 130, Bento Goncalves, RS, Brazil

Xylella fastidiosa is plant-pathogenic bacterium transmitted by leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in the subfamily Cicadellinae, commonly known as sharpshooters. In the United States and Mexico, a particular strain of this pathogen causes Pierce's disease (PD) in grapes. PD has not been reported in Brazil, although grape is a major crop in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). In this study, we conducted a survey of Cicadellinae leafhoppers by yellow sticky traps in grape orchards of the region of Bento Goncalves/RS, during 09/2004-09/2006, in order to identify potential vectors of X. fastidiosa. In four different farms, we collected a total of 25 Cicadellinae species in the tribes Proconiini (715 individuals; 11 species) and Cicadellini (1,762 individuals; 14 species). Six of these species have been previously reported as vectors of a citrus strain of X. fastidiosa. The diversity and abundance of native sharpshooters found in our survey indicates a high risk of PD spread in grapes if a pathogenic strain of X. fastidiosa evolves or is introduced in the State of Rio Grande do Sul.


Species 1: Hemiptera Cicadellidae Bucephalogonia xanthophis
Species 2: Hemiptera Cicadellidae Acrogonia citrina
Species 3: Hemiptera Cicadellidae Molomea consolida