Phytoplasma that belongs to the aster yellows (AY), 16SrI-B subgroup and causes characteristic deformations of winter oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus) has been observed in Poland more then a decade. The diseased plants exhibit phyllody of flowers, which lead to siliques malformations and losses in seed production. The aim of this study was to find a natural insect vector of AY involved in epidemiology of oilseed rape phyllody disease in Poland. Two species: Macrosteles laevis and Psammotettix alienus were selected as potential vectors and adult leafhoppers of these species were placed in cages with phytoplasma infected oilseed rape. After acquisition period, individuals of each species were transferred to cages containing healthy seedlings of test plants: summer and winter oilseed rape (B. napus), barley (Hordeum vulgare), Madagascar periwinkle (Catharantus roseus) and broad bean (Vicia faba). After inoculation, the insects were examined for phytoplasma presence in their tissue by sequencing PCR (polymerase chain reaction) products. Only M. laevis leafhoppers tested positive. The test plants were analyzed in the same manner. The disease agent was transmitted by the M. laevis, to barley, periwinkle and broad bean, but not to oilseed rape.

Fitoplazmy należące do grupy żółtaczek astra (AY – aster yellows), podgrupy 16SrI-B powodują charakterystyczne deformacje rzepaku ozimego (Brassica napus) w uprawach w Polsce od ponad dekady. Porażone rośliny wykształcają w miejsce kwiatów tzw. fyllodia, które prowadzą do deformacji łuszczyn i strat w produkcji nasion. Celem pracy było rozpoznanie naturalnego wektora fitoplazmy wywołującej chorobę rzepaku zwaną fyllodiozą. Zbadano potencjał przenoszenia fitoplazmy infekującej rzepak przez dwa gatunki skoczków: Macrosteles laevis i Psammotettix alienus. Na zainfekowanej fitoplazmą AY 16SrI-B roślinie rzepaku hodowano zdrowe owady, a następnie osobniki obu gatunków przenoszono na siewki zdrowych roślin rzepaku jarego i ozimego, jęczmienia, katarantusa różowego oraz bobu. Po zakończeniu inokulacji, owady testowano pod kątem obecności fitoplazmy w ich tkankach, sekwencjonując produkty reakcji PCR (polymerase chain reaction). W przeprowadzonych testach tylko owad M. laevis nabywał fitoplazmę. Zakażane rośliny po okresie obserwacji testowano w analogiczny sposób, jak owady. Uzyskano przeniesienie fitoplazmy wywołującej fyllodiozę rzepaku przez M. laevis na rośliny testowe: jęczmień, bób i katarantusa, ale nie potwierdzono przenoszenia fitoplazmy na rzepak.

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