The Detection of Homopterous Phytoplasma Vectors Infecting Some Ornamental and Medicinal Plants In Egypt الکشف عن نواقل الفيتوبلازما متجانسة الاجنحة التى تصيب بعض نباتات الزينة والنباتات الطبية في مصر

Abstract

This work is the first record of a phytoplasma associated with homopterous phytoplasma vectors infecting some ornamental and medicinal plants in Egypt. The field study was conducted during two successive seasons 2009 and 2011 in four different locations in Giza and Cairo governorates of Egypt, one was chosen and located inside Rose garden, Fac. of Agri., Cairo Univ., and the three others were clollected from different fields located outside, in A-zohreiya gardens, Cairo governorate, Orman garden, Giza governorate and 6-October city. The infected sample of (rose, jasmine, rue, Egyptian henbane and periwinkle) plants were showing the symptom infection (phyllody, whitches-broom, little leaf and yellowing and revealed that the percentage of natural infection were (22.2, 82.7, 18.9 and 22.2%) while was 25% of Egyptian henbance virescence disease. Ten different identificated species of field-collected insects (Cicadulina bipunctella, Exitiaus taeniaticeps, Neolimus aegyptiacus, toya sp., Empoasca sp; Metatua sp; Sogatella vibix; Chiasmus sp; Balclutha sp; and Chlorotettix sp.) determined whether they can play a role in phytoplasma transmission or not. However, Sogatella vibix; Chiasmus sp; Balclutha sp. and Chlorotettix sp. were not vectors of phytoplasma. With note, the presence of the psyllid (jumping plant-lice); infesting the ornamental/medicinal crops was detected, and that is the first record in Egypt