Epidemiological studies on the stunt disease of highbush blueberry |
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Authors: | D C MAESO TOZZP D C RAMSDELL O TABOADA I -M LEE R E DAVIS |
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Institution: | Departments of Botany &Plant Pathology and Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA and United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland, USA |
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Abstract: | Population levels of Scaphytopius spp., possible sharpnosed leafhopper vectors of blueberry stunt disease (BBSD), were monitored during 1989,1990 and 1991, using yellow sticky traps and a D-Vac power aspirator. Scaphytopius magdalensis (Prov.), S. frontalis (Van D.) and 5. acutus (Say) had two population peaks, one after the petal fall stage and a larger second peak in late Summer to early Autumn. Healthy cv. Bluecrop highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plants were placed under stunt-diseased bushes in the field for 2-wk periods during 1989 and 1990. These plants and some of the leafhoppers trapped during 1990 and 1991 were tested for mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) infection with a DNA probe that detected BBSD-associated MLO. The percentage of plants and the number of Scaphytopius spp. that were MLO-positive tended to follow the same bimodal distribution found in the population studies. BBSD transmission tests were performed with Scaphytopius spp. collected from the field. Stunt-related MLO transmission was achieved with S. magdalensis, S. acutus and 5. frontalis. |
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Keywords: | Blueberry stunt disease Vaccinium corymbosum L highbush blueberry mycoplasma-like organism Scaphytopius spp sharpnosed leafhopper |
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