DIVERSITY OF CICADELLIDAE (HEMIPTERA: AUCHENORRHYNCHA) SPECIES IN VARIOUS FIELD CROPS IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA, TURKEY

This study determined the diversity of Cicadellidae species infesting various field crops (i.e., wheat, barley, chickpeas, lentils, corn, vegetables, sunflower, peanuts, onion, sesame, tobacco, watermelon, melon, tomato, pepper, eggplant, alfalfa, cucumber, bean, potato) grown in southeastern Anatolia region, Turkey. The second major aim of the study was to determine whether the species could serve as potential vectors for viruses and phytoplasma diseases. Field surveys were conducted through 2015 and 2016 in Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Mardin and Sanliurfa provinces situated in southeastern Anatolia region of the country. The survey timing was adjusted according to the phenological stages of the crops grown in the region. Samples were collected either by D-Vac or sweep net based on the phenological stage of the surveyed crop. A total of 100 net sweeps were swept at 5 different places in the field (20 nets at each sampling place) or D-Vac was run for 2 minutes at five different random places within the field. A total of 33 species belonging to 7 Cicadellidae sub-families were recorded. The most frequently observed species in the region were Asymmetrasca decedens, Empoasca decipiens, Zyginidia sohrab, Z. pullula, Circulifer haematoceps, Psammotettix striatus, P. alienus and P. provincialis. A total of 26, 16, 12 and 11 species were recorded from Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa, Mardin and Adiyaman provinces, respectively. The study suggests that P. alienus, P. provincialis, P. striatus and C. haematoceps were frequently recorded from the surveyed region and could be considered as potential vectors of viruses and pyhtoplasma in maize, wheat and other crops. Therefore, further studies should be focused on disease spread through reported species in the current study.