Potato () as a New Host for (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) and Arsenophonus Phytopathogenicus.

is a planthopper (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) that vectors two phloem-restricted bacterial pathogens to sugar beet ( (L.)): the γ-proteobacterium Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus and the stolbur phytoplasma . These bacteria cause an economically important disease known as syndrome basses richesses (SBR), characterized by yellowing, deformed leaves and low beet yields. Having observed potato fields in Germany infested with cixiid planthoppers and showing signs of leaf yellowing, we used morphological criteria and COI and COII as molecular markers, to identify the planthoppers (adults and nymphs) primarily as . We analyzed planthoppers, potato tubers, and sugar beet roots and detected both pathogens in all sample types, confirming that adults and nymphs can transmit the bacteria. This is the first time that has been shown to transmit Arsenophonus to potato plants. We also found that two generations of were produced in the warm summer of 2022, which will probably increase the pest population size (and thus the prevalence of SBR) in 2023. We conclude that has expanded its host range to potato, and can now utilize both host plants during its developmental cycle, a finding that will facilitate the development of more efficient control strategies.