PLANTHOPPER TRANSMISSION OF PHORMIUM YELLOW LEAF PHYTOPLASMA

Phormium yellow leaf (PYL) phytoplasma was transmitted from diseased t o healthy New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) by the native planthopper, Oliarus atkinsoni (Homoptera: Cixiidae). By contrast, transmission wa s not effected by the introduced passionvine hopper, Scolypopa austral is (Homoptera: Ricaniidae). Successful transmission of PYL phytoplasma from New Zealand flax to New Zealand flax by O. atkinsoni was demonst rated by symptomatology and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the test plants using phytoplasma-specific primers to the 16S rRNA genes. When the salivary glands and the remaining body of the planthoppers us ed in the transmission studies were tested separately by PCR for the p resence of phytoplasma, PYL phytoplasma was detected in 100% of both t he salivary glands and the bodies of pre-transmission O. atkinsoni, an d in 44% and 67% of the salivary glands and the bodies of post-transmi ssion planthoppers, respectively. The phytoplasma was not detected by PCR in the whole bodies of hoppers of S. australis.