Population dynamics of Cacopsylla pruni and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum' infection in North-Eastern Italy

A two year surveys was conducted in Friuli Venezia Giulia region (north-eastern Italy) with the aims to improve knowledge about biological characteristics of Cacopsylla pruni Scopoli, and to ascertain its role in the spread of different 'Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum' strains. Insects were captured starting from March till the end of April in apricot orchards with high European stone fruit yellows incidence. For phytoplasma detection a nested PCR protocol based on aceF gene was adopted. Results confirmed that the percentage of phytoplasma positive insects increased from March to April, because they fed on infected trees. During the reimmigration season the percentage of females was higher than that of males, especially after coupling time. Besides a very high percentage of infected C. pruni, no significant differences related to the sex were observed. 'Ca. P. prunorum' strains of aceF-A, aceF-C and aceF-E subgroups, were mainly found in the captured C. pruni population.