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DETECTION IN GALICIA OF SCAPHOIDEUS TITANUS
Ball INSECT VECTOR OF GOLDEN FLAVESCENCE
Golden flavescence is an aggressive grapevine disease caused by
a phytoplasm. First symptoms observed in the host are yield reduction, and
later if the disease spreads in the vineyards, plants finally die.
Phytoplasm is a quarantine pathogen in the
European Union, and occurs in some countries, with some affected areas in
Southern France and Northern Italy. In Spain this disease was first reported in
the Catalonian region of l'Alt Empordà. The natural vector of the
disease is Scaphoideus titanus Ball, homopterous of the family
Cicadellidae that does not cause important direct damages in grapevines
but as vector of the disease it has an important economic significance. In
Galicia programs of detection of the insect were initiated in 1999, and until
2007 the insect was not detected. However, in September 2007 two specimens were
found in a trap placed in Crecente municipality (Pontevedra). Therefore, a more
exhaustive survey needs to be performed in our region, although specific
symptoms of flavescence were not observed so far.
Ovipositor |
Scaphoideus
titanus |
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