This book tries to examine all aspects related to phytoplasmas, their plant hosts and insect vectors. The opening chapter is followed by chapters on sequencing and functional genomics, which relies heavily on comparing phytoplasma genomics with that of other known bacteria. Three chapters take...

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the phytoplasma vector groups and their control by using clean propagation material, resistant plants, roguing, weed control, habitat management, mulching, physical control covering (barriers), barrier sprays, parasitoid/predator releases,...

This chapter focuses on a few more extensively studied examples of resistance to phytoplasmal diseases: coconut lethal yellowing in the tropics and three major diseases of temperate fruit trees, namely apple proliferation (AP), pear decline (PD) and European stone fruit yellows (ESFY). AP and PD...

The comparison of the different grapevine yellows (GY) diseases (flavescence dorée caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis', bois noir caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', Australian grapevine yellows caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense' [Phytoplasma australiense], tomato big bud...

This chapter deals with phytoplasmas using multiple plant hosts. The topic will be restricted to such phytoplasmas that regularly use more than one plant-vector system to exploit different ecological niches, and to examples where the specific host association of genetically diverse phytoplasma...

This chapter explores the diseases and the phytoplasmas that are transmitted by psyllid vectors, the biology and transmission characteristics of the different psyllid vectors and the possibilities of their control (using insecticides, repellents and healthy planting materials, and release of...

This chapter deals with the current understanding about microbial symbionts associated with insect vectors of phytoplasmas, with a particular regard to the achievements towards the development of innovative strategies to prevent pathogen diffusion, as it was proposed for controlling other bacterial ...

Insect vectors can acquire more than one phytoplasma species/strain, either by feeding on multiple-infected source plants or by feeding sequentially on different plants infected by different phytoplasmas. The acquisition of multiple phytoplasmas leads to their interaction in the vector insects....

This chapter reviews the main phytoplasma taxonomic groups, and describes the main geographical areas and the crops that are affected. Effects of potential climate change (global warming) on the distribution of insect vectors (particularly Auchenorrhyncha) and incidence of phytoplasma diseases are...

This chapter explores arthropod vectors of plant pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Some of these vectors transmit viruses non-persistently, often by brief feeding probes lasting a few minutes or less. Other vectors transmit the virus semipersistently (over a few days) or persistently (for weeks or...