EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 06 - 2012 Num. article: 2012/118

First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ on carrots in Finland, in association with Trioza apicalis


In August 2008, carrot plants (Daucus carota) with symptoms resembling those caused by the carrot psyllid, Trioza apicalis (Hemiptera: Triozidae), were observed in 14 commercial fields in Finland. Affected plants showed leaf curling, yellow and purple discolouration of leaves, stunting of tap roots and shoots, and proliferation of secondary roots. Investigations revealed the presence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in diseased plants (including 1 asymptomatic plant). This is the first time that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ is reported in Europe and also the first time that it is reported in association with a non-solanaceous plant. During these studies it was also found that ‘Ca. L. solanacearum’ could also be detected in mixed infections with Aster yellows phytoplasma in symptomatic carrot plants.

Sources

Munyaneza JE, Fisher TW, Sengoda VG, Garczynski SF, Nissinen A, Lemmetty A (2010) First report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ associated with psyllid-affected carrots in Europe. Plant Disease 94(5), p 639.
Munyaneza JE, Fisher TW, Sengoda VG, Garczynski SF, Nissinen A, Lemmetty A (2010) Association of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ with the psyllid, Trioza apicalis (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Europe. Journal of Economic Entomology 103(4), 1060-1070.
Munyaneza JE, Lemmetty A, Nissinen A, Sengoda VG, Fisher TW (2011) Molecular detection of Aster yellows phytoplasma and ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ in carrots affected by the psyllid, Trioza apicalis (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in Finland. Journal of Plant Pathology 93(3), 697-700.