Study tracking plant pathogens on planthoppers from natural areas
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Phytoplasmas are bacteria that can attack plant vascular tissues, causing various plant diseases. While most phytoplasma research begins by examining plants that show symptoms of disease, the new analysis focuses on tiny insects that carry infectious bacteria from plant to plant. By extracting and testing DNA from archives of planthopper specimens collected in natural areas, this study identified new phytoplasma strains and discovered new associations between planthoppers and phytoplasmas that are known to harm plants. Reported in the journal Biology, the study is the first to look for phytoplasma in insects from a natural area, said Illinois Natural History Survey postdoctoral researcher Valeria Trivellone, who led the study with INHS State Entomologist Christopher Dietrich. It is also the first to use multiple molecular approaches to detect and identify phytoplasma in planthoppers. The research team included Illinois Natural History postdoctoral researchers Yang