Original paper
An overview on the worldwide vectors of Xylella fastidiosa
Cornara, Daniele; Morente, Marina; Markheiser, Anna; Bodino, Nicola; Tsai, Chi-Wei; Fereres, Alberto; Redak, Richard A.; Perring, Thomas M.; Lopes, Joao Roberto Spotti

Entomologia Generalis Volume 39 Number 3-4 (2019), p. 157 - 181
published: Dec 23, 2019
published online: Dec 9, 2019
manuscript accepted: Jul 5, 2019
manuscript revision received: Jul 1, 2019
manuscript revision requested: Feb 17, 2019
manuscript received: Dec 31, 2018
DOI: 10.1127/entomologia/2019/0811
ArtNo. ESP146003903000, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The Gram-negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa causes disease in a number of important crops and plants within natural ecosystems. Most notable among these diseases are Pierce’s disease of grapevine, Citrus Variegated Chlorosis, Almond Leaf Scorch, Oleander Leaf Scorch and Olive Quick Decline Syndrome. In response to substantial economic losses, extensive research efforts have been underway over the past several decades in North and South America. Recently, X. fastidiosa has been detected in several countries of Europe and Asia, likely appearing as a result of global trading of plant material. Once established in a new region, X. fastidiosa spread is dependent on the obligate transmission by xylem-sap feeding insects. Sharpshooter leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) are the best-studied group of vectors of this bacterium; however the list of known vector species is expanding. As X. fastidiosa moves into new regions, the combination of an introduced pathogen with existing or introduced vectors carries the potential of increasing economically important disease problems in the local context. By reviewing ecological and biological information of known X. fastidiosa vectors and the epidemiology of local X. fastidiosa outbreaks, this paper aims at increasing our understanding of vector– X. fastidiosa interactions.
Keywords
Vector-borne plant bacterium • Auchenorryncha • outbreak • sharpshooters • spittlebugs