Vectors of phytoplasmas
- Category
- Disease Ecology
Definition
, predominantly sap-feeding insects in the order , that acquire phytoplasmas (-wall-less, phloem-limited bacteria in the class Mollicutes) from infected plants and transmit them to new hosts, thereby spreading such as , X-disease of stone fruits, and grapevine yellows. Transmission is typically persistent-circulative or persistent-propagative: phytoplasmas penetrate the insect's gut epithelium, multiply in various tissues including the salivary glands, and are injected into new plants during feeding. specificity varies; some phytoplasmas are restricted to single vector species, while others are transmitted by multiple related species. The most important vectors are (), (Fulgoroidea), and (), with occasional reports from mites (). Vector competence depends on bacterial strain, plant host, and environmental temperature.
Etymology
Example
The () is a primary of phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris) across North America, acquiring the while feeding on infected weeds and transmitting it to lettuce, carrots, and ornamental crops.
Synonyms
- phytoplasma vectors
- phytoplasma-transmitting insects
Related Terms
- phytoplasma
- leafhopper
- circulative transmission
- propagative transmission
- phloem feeder
- vector competence
- Aster yellows
- grapevine yellows
- Candidatus Phytoplasma
Usage Notes
Not all insects that feed on phytoplasma-infected plants are competent ; many lack the cellular receptors or tissue tropism required for acquisition and transmission. The term emphasizes the functional role rather than taxonomic identity. Contrast with vectors of viruses, bacteria, or fungi, which involve different transmission mechanisms and often different insect groups. In epidemiological models, vector abundance and are critical parameters for predicting spread in agricultural systems.