Detection of European Stone Fruit Yellows Phytoplasma (ESFYP) in Homoptera insects and in wild stone fruit trees collected in peach orchards in Northern italy

European Stone Fruit Yellows (ESFY) has been reported in Italy with increasing frequency in peach orchards in the provinces of Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, Rimini and Verona. The discovery of the natural vector of ESFY-phytoplasma, the psyllid Cacopsylla pruni, prompted us to investigate the presence of psyllids infected by ESFYP, as well as other potential vectors and alternative hosts, in various orchards in these provinces. The molecular diagnostic methods used (PCR-ELISA) made it possible to detect several C. pruni psyllids infected by ESFYP in this area, but no important secondary vectors were found in the peach orchards. Molecular tests were also made on wild plants surrounding the orchards, leading to ESFYP identiifcation in wild Prunus alone.