Department of Agricultural Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
J Insect Sci. 2011;11:60. doi: 10.1673/031.011.6001.
Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) account for more than 80% of all "Auchenorrhynchous" vectors that transmit phytoplasmas. The leafhopper populations in two almond witches'-broom phytoplasma (AlmWB) infected sites: Tanboureet (south of Lebanon) and Bourj El Yahoudieh (north of Lebanon) were surveyed using yellow sticky traps. The survey revealed that the most abundant species was Asymmetrasca decedens, which represented 82.4% of all the leafhoppers sampled. Potential phytoplasma vectors in members of the subfamilies Aphrodinae, Deltocephalinae, and Megophthalminae were present in very low numbers including: Aphrodes makarovi, Cicadulina bipunctella, Euscelidius mundus, Fieberiella macchiae, Allygus theryi, Circulifer haematoceps, Neoaliturus transversalis, and Megophthalmus scabripennis. Allygus theryi (Horváth) (Deltocephalinae) was reported for the first time in Lebanon. Nested PCR analysis and sequencing showed that Asymmetrasca decedens, Empoasca decipiens, Fieberiella macchiae, Euscelidius mundus, Thamnottetix seclusis, Balclutha sp., Lylatina inexpectata, Allygus sp., and Annoplotettix danutae were nine potential carriers of AlmWB phytoplasma. Although the detection of phytoplasmas in an insect does not prove a definite vector relationship, the technique is useful in narrowing the search for potential vectors. The importance of this information for management of AlmWB is discussed.
叶蝉（半翅目：叶蝉科）占传播植原体的所有“叶蝉科”载体的 80%以上。在两个感染杏仁黄木虱植原体（AlmWB）的扁桃女巫扫帚病疫区（黎巴嫩南部的 Tanboureet 和黎巴嫩北部的 Bourj El Yahoudieh）使用黄色粘性诱捕器调查了叶蝉种群。调查显示，最丰富的物种是 Asymmetrasca decedens，占所有采样叶蝉的 82.4%。 Aphrodinae、Deltocephalinae 和 Megophthalminae 亚科的潜在植原体载体数量非常少，包括：Aphrodes makarovi、Cicadulina bipunctella、Euscelidius mundus、Fieberiella macchiae、Allygus theryi、Circulifer haematoceps、Neoaliturus transversalis 和 Megophthalmus scabripennis。Allygus theryi (Horváth)（Deltocephalinae）在黎巴嫩首次报道。巢式 PCR 分析和测序表明，Asymmetrasca decedens、Empoasca decipiens、Fieberiella macchiae、Euscelidius mundus、Thamnottetix seclusis、Balclutha sp.、Lylatina inexpectata、Allygus sp. 和 Annoplotettix danutae 是 AlmWB 植原体的九个潜在载体。尽管在昆虫中检测到植原体并不能证明其具有明确的载体关系，但该技术有助于缩小对潜在载体的搜索范围。讨论了这些信息对 AlmWB 管理的重要性。
