Empoasca papayae Oman, 1937 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) the simultaneous vector of phytoplasmas and rickettsia associated with “Bunchy Top Symptom” in Cuba

espanolEnsayos de transmision mostraron desarrollo de sintomas tipicos de BTS en todas las plantas de papaya despues de tres meses de post-inoculadas con Empoasca papayae. El fitoplasma identificado en 28 de 45 las plantas inoculadas, presento, en secuencia de ADN ribosomal 16S, un 99,9% igual al identificado en plantas de campo y con las detectadas previamente en E. papayae en Cuba. Todos son miembros del subgrupo de fitoplasma 16SrI-B. Una rickettsia se identifico en 41 de las 45 plantas inoculadas. Su secuencia parcial del gen sdhA mostro un 100% de identidad con la rickettsia identificada en plantas de campo, E. papayae y las previamente publicadas. Los resultados confirmaron la habilidad de E. papayae para transmitir simultaneamente el fitoplasma y la rickettsia. EnglishTransmission trials showed typical BTS symptoms developed in all papaya plants after three months post-inoculated with Empoasca papayae. The BTS phytoplasma was identified in 28 out of 45 inoculated papayas, whose partial 16S rDNA sequence was 99.9% identical to those of the phytoplasma identified in the field-collected papayas, and that previously detected in E. papayae in Cuba. These are all members of the phytoplasma subgroup 16SrI-B. A rickettsia was identified in 41 out of 45 inoculated papayas. It showed a 100% of identity of its partial sdhA sequence to those from the field-collected papayas, E. papayae and the rickettsia previously identified. Results confirmed the ability of E. papayae to simultaneously transmit the BTS phytoplasma and the rickettsia pathogen.