Cicaline dell’agroecosistema vigneto: risultati di un quadriennio di indagini nelle Marche.

Grapevine yellows are serious diseases that are caused by phytoplasma and are transmitted propagatively by phloem-feeding insects, mainly leafhoppers and planthoppers. the aim of the present study was of detrming the occurrence and distribution of leafhopper and planthopper vectors or suspected vectors of phytoplasma in the most important viticultural areas of the Marche region. In addition in some vineyard agroecosystems where Bois Noir (BN) was known to occur, the roots of herbaceous plants were checked for presence of H. obsoletus larval instars. This was of particular note for: Cirsium arvense, Convolvolus arvensis, Picris echioides, Plantago lanceolata, Potentilla reptans and Urtica dioica. Many species of Auchenorrhyncha were detected. No Scaphoideus titanus was found in the region. H. obsoletus larvae were collected only on U. dioica roots and adults were found, from June to August, rather on U. dioica and C. arvensis than on grapevine. U. dioica not always were found in or around vineyards in which H. obsoletus was detected. In some BN-affected vineyards, H. obsoletus populations were scarce and during the same period of observation Neoaliturus fenestratus was the most abundant known vector species and was found positive for BN causal agent.