Potato is a host of ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ and its vector, Pentastiridius leporinus
‘Syndrome des basses richesses’ (formerly EPPO Alert List) is an emerging disease of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) in the EPPO region. It is mainly associated with a γ-proteobacterium ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ and it is transmitted by a planthopper, Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). In some cases, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ has been detected but its role in the disease remains to be clarified. ‘Syndrome des basses richesses’ was first observed in France in 1991, and then in Hungary (2005), Germany (2009), and Switzerland (2017). In 2020 and 2021, potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields infested with planthoppers and showing leaf yellowing, wilting and rubbery tubers were observed in Germany. Molecular tests confirmed the presence of ‘Ca. Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ in diseased potato samples and in P. leporinus. This is the first time that potato is reported to be a host of both the proteobacterium and its vector.
Sources
Behrmann SC, Rinklef A, Lang C, Vilcinskas A, Lee KZ (2023) Potato (Solanum tuberosum) as a new host for Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) and Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus. Insects 14(3), 281. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/281