New insights on grapevine yellows disease in North-Eastern Italy

Grapevine yellows (GYs) is one of the most damaging phytoplasma-associated diseases that causes severe yield losses in every geographic area where grapevines are cultivated. The main yellows diseases in grapevine in Europe are “flavescence dorée” (FD, 16SrV-C/D ribosomal subgroups) and “bois noir” (BN, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', 16SrXII-A ribosomal subgroup), transmitted by Scaphoideus titanus Ball and Hyalestes obsoletus Signoret, respectively. Recently the mosaic leafhopper Orientus ishidae (Matsumura) (Cicadellidae; Deltocephalinae) was found to be positive to 16SrV-C and -D phytoplasmas in Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland ; it was also shown as capable to transmit 16SrV phytoplasmas from broadbean to grapevine. To verify the reasons of the continuous GY spreading in the Veneto region (North-Eastern Italy), “Prosecco areas”, the identification and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas in symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevine and insects captured in selected vineyards during a three year-survey was carried out