Phytoplasmas detected in insects and spontaneous vegetation near vineyards with yellows diseases in Italy

Surveys in and nearby vineyards in some Italian provinces were carried out to detect alternative host plants and possible insect vectors of phytoplasmas detected in grapevines. Aster yellows is the prevalent phytoplasma detected in both beside the 16SrXII-A and 16SrV-C phytoplasmas. Moreover other phytoplasmas belonging to diverse ribosomal groups were identified indicating a relevant epidemiological role of spontaneous vegetation and possible new insect vectors in the grapevine yellows.