Study of Host Range of Hishimonus Phycitis (Dist.) and Effect of Lime Growth Conditions on Its Reproduction and Wbdl Intensity

Witches broom disease is one of the most important phytoplasma diseases of lime that threaten lime orchards in south of Iran. It causes by Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia and transmitted by the leafhopper vector, Hishimonus phycitis. The results of present study showed that H. phycitis reproduced only on Citrus and Ziziphus species. It is reported in some sources that H. phycitis is a disease vector and a pest on some plant species like eggplant, sesame, and cotton. This indicate that there is a probable variation among H. phycitis population in Iran and the populations reported from other countries like India. It was also found that H. phycitis prefered young and fresh shoots for feeding and egg laying. This caused an increase in population of H. phycitis on twigs and also in local massively infected trees. Because of this preference, the vector and thereby the disease was more prevalent in orchards with good horticultural management than the other orchards.