Acquisition of Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma by Scaphoideus titanus Ball from Different Grapevine Varieties

Flavescence dorée (FD) poses a significant threat to wine production in the UNESCO-listed vineyard landscapes of Piedmont, Italy. Research reveals that the efficiency with which the vector insect Scaphoideus titanus acquires FD phytoplasma varies markedly depending on grapevine variety and phytoplasma load, rather than simply FDP levels alone. While varieties like Arneis support lower phytoplasma multiplication, they remain highly susceptible to vector acquisition, suggesting disease spread is more closely tied to vector behavior than plant infection severity. The study employed laboratory-reared S. titanus nymphs caged on infected plants to quantify acquisition efficiency across six local cultivars, demonstrating a complex interplay between grapevine variety and phytoplasma dynamics that could inform FD management strategies in vulnerable wine regions.

Galetto, L., Miliordos, D., Pegoraro, M., Sacco, D., Veratti, F., Marzachì, C., & Bosco, D. (2016). Acquisition of Flavescence Dorée Phytoplasma by Scaphoideus titanus Ball from Different Grapevine Varieties. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(9), 1563. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17091563