Candidatus Phlomobacter fragariae is the prevalent agent of marginal chlorosis of strawberry in French production fields and is transmitted by the planthopper Cixius wagneri (China)

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 93; no. 6; pp. 644 - 649
• Main Authors: DANET, Jean-Luc, FOISSAC, Xavier, ZREIK, Leyla, SALAR, Pascal, VERDIN, Eric, NOURRISSEAU, Jean-Georges, GAMIER, Monique
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Paul, MN American Phytopathological Society 01.06.2003
• Subjects: Bacterial plant pathogens; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Techniques. Transmission, epidemiology, ecology. Antibacterial substances, control; Life Sciences; Phytopathology and phytopharmacy; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Vegetal Biology; France; Europe; Fragaria; Plant pathogen; Small fruits; Rosaceae; Transmission; Epidemiology; Infection; Etiology; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Bacteriosis; Spermatophyta; Vector; FRAISIER; CANDIDATUS PHLOMOCATER FRAGARIAE; BACTERIOLOGIE
• ISSN: 0031-949X; 1943-7684; 0031-949X
• DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO.2003.93.6.644

ABSTRACT Marginal chlorosis has affected strawberry production in France for about 15 years. A phloem-restricted uncultured bacterium, "Candidatus Phlomobacter fragariae," is associated with the disease. A large-scale survey for marginal chlorosis in French strawberry production fields and nurseries by polymerase chain reaction amplification of "Ca. P. fragariae" 16S rDNA revealed that symptoms of marginal chlorosis were not always induced by "Ca. P. fragariae" and that the stolbur phytoplasma could induce identical symptoms. "Ca. P. fragariae" was found to be predominant in strawberry production fields, whereas the stolbur phytoplasma was predominantly detected in nurseries. Two transmission periods of the disease, one in spring and the other from late summer to early fall, were evident. Cixius wagneri planthoppers captured on infected strawberry plants were demonstrated to be efficient vectors of "Ca. P. fragariae." The involvement in natural disease spread of the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, previously shown to acquire and multiply "Ca. P. fragariae" under greenhouse conditions, remains uncertain.