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January 2007 - December 2012
Publications
Publications (310)
During field surveys conducted in 2020 in Jordanian orchards, phytoplasma‐like symptoms (leaf yellowing/reddening and rolling, and witches'‐broom) were observed in three stone fruit species (peach, European plum, sweet cherry) and persimmon. Molecular analyses identified phytoplasma strains belonging to the species ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’...
Efficient grapevine downy mildew control necessitates the implementation of anti-resistance strategies to ensure the ongoing efficacy of available substances and optimal disease control. With the gradual disappearance of multi-site fungicides from the market, reliance on single-site fungicides poses a long-term risk of selecting strains resistant t...
During field surveys conducted in 2021 in western Jordanian heights, phytoplasma-like symptoms were observed, including leaf reddening along with slow decline in pear (pear decline symptoms) and leaf yellowing followed by scorch in apple trees. Abundant populations of the psyllid Cacopsylla bidens were found in the pear trees. Nested PCR amplifying...
Flavescence dorée (FD) is the most important phytoplasma-associated disease of the grapevine yellows complex in Europe. Recent studies highlighted a great genetic diversity within FD phytoplasma (FDp) strains and demonstrated that their diffusion is not related exclusively to the pathosystem including Vitis vinifera L. and Scaphoideus titanus but i...
“Bois noir” disease associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ seriously compromises the production and survival of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) in Europe. Understanding the plant response to phytoplasmas should help to improve disease control strategies. Using a combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, this work, therefore, investi...
Field surveys and molecular-based analyses revealed the presence of almond and pomegranate phytoplasma-associated
diseases and confirmed the diffusion of grapevine yellows in Jordan. Seven ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species belonging to
eight ribosomal subgroups were identified in symptomatic almond trees, four ‘Ca. Phytoplasma’ species belonging to...
Faba bean phyllody associated with a high population of leafhoppers was observed in fields in Jordan Valley. Samples of
affected plants were used to transmit the phyllody agent to faba bean by grafting.Empoasca decipienswas detected as potential
insect vector of the disease. The phytoplasma presence was detected by nested PCR targeting the 16S rDNA...
During field surveys conducted from June to October 2020 in 13 locations belonging to five
governorates in North and South Jordan, typical grapevine yellows symptoms, including leaf
reddening/yellowing and rolling, were observed in wine and table grape cultivar vineyards.
Percentage of symptomatic vines ranged from 10 to 55%. Nested PCR-based am...
Xylella fastidiosa is a fastidious Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with several important plant diseases, and is regulated as a quarantine pest in many countries where strategies are implemented to prevent its introduction and spread. To enact efficient quarantine measures, effective and early detection of the pathogen are essential, esp...
Downy and powdery mildews are major grapevine diseases. In organic viticulture, a few fungicides with protectant activities (copper and sulphur in particular) can be used, and their preventative application frequently leads to unneeded spraying. The adoption of an epidemiological disease forecasting model could optimise the timing of treatments and...
Downy mildew, caused by the obligate parasite Plasmopara viticola, is one of the most important threats to viticulture. The exploitation of resistant and susceptibility traits of grapevine is one of the most promising ways to increase the sustainability of disease management. Nitrogen (N) fertilization is known for influencing disease severity in t...
Background
Oxathiapiprolin is a novel fungicide and the first of the piperidinyl‐thiazole‐isoxazoline class to be discovered. This fungicide has been reported to have high activity against Plasmopara viticola, the grapevine downy mildew agent, and other plant‐pathogenic oomycetes. In this study, the baseline sensitivity of Italian P. viticola popul...
During field surveys carried out from June to October 2020 and in January 2021 in orchards of northern Jordan, phytoplasma-like symptoms (early flowering along with evergreen pattern; witches’-broom, yellowing, and dieback; slim leaf and leaf rolling; stem fasciation) were observed in almond trees. In 23 investigated orchards, symptomatic almond tr...
During field surveys conducted in northern Jordan from June to November 2020, phytoplasma‐like symptoms, including leaf yellowing/reddening and rolling, little leaf and witches' broom were observed in pomegranate. Disease incidence in 22 surveyed orchards ranged from 30% to 65%. Nested PCR‐based amplification of 16S rRNA gene detected phytoplasmas...
Endophytic plant-growth-promoting bacteria (ePGPB) are interesting tools for pest management strategies. However, the molecular interactions underlying specific biocontrol effects, particularly against phytopathogenic viruses, remain unexplored. Herein, we investigated the antiviral effects and triggers of induced systemic resistance mediated by fo...
Grapevine “bois noir”, related to the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (‘Ca. P. solani’), represents a serious threat in several vine-growing areas worldwide. In surveys conducted over two years, mild and/or moderate symptoms and lower pathogen titer were mainly associated with ‘Ca. P. solani’ strains harboring a secY gene sequence varia...
Rapid and sensitive assays for the identification of plant pathogens are necessary for the effective management of crop diseases. The main limitation of current diagnostic testing is the inability to combine broad and sensitive pathogen detection with the identification of key strains, pathovars, and subspecies. Such discrimination is necessary for...
The Eurasian grapevine ( Vitis vinifera ), a species cultivated worldwide for high-quality wine production, is extremely susceptible to the agent of downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola . Nevertheless, germplasm from Georgia (Southern Caucasus, the first grapevine domestication centre), characterized by a high genetic variability, showed resistance tr...
Downy mildew, caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola, is one of the diseases causing the most severe economic losses to grapevine (Vitis vinifera) production. To date, the application of fungicides is the most efficient method to control the pathogen and the implementation of novel and sustainable disease control methods is a major challenge. R...
Questo volume, coordinato dal Prof. Giovanni Vannacci dell'Università di Pisa, presenta le più aggiornate conoscenze scientifiche e tecniche su organismi patogeni e malattie delle piante, metodologie diagnostiche e strategie di difesa. La trattazione generale è seguita da una raccolta di Schede in cui sono discussi esempi di malattie importanti in...
Bois noir (BN) grapevine disease is associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (CaPsol), a pathogen with a complex ecology including multiple insect vectors and plant hosts. A key point to improve the effectiveness of BN control strategies consists in determining the epidemiological role of ground-cover weeds. The present study employed a mult...
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the most widely cultivated plant species of agricultural interest, and is extensively appreciated for its fruits and the wines made from its fruits. Considering the high socio-economic impact of the wine sector all over the world, in recent years, there has been an increase in work aiming to investigate the biod...
The discovery of new mechanisms of resistance and natural bioactive molecules could be two of the possible ways to reduce fungicide use in vineyard and assure an acceptable and sustainable protection against Plasmopara viticola, the grapevine downy mildew agent. Emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as terpenes, norisoprenoids, alcoho...
Terpenes constitute a highly diverse class of chemical compounds produced by the plant and playing a role in many functions, both physiological and ecological. Plants constantly interact with other organisms, from beneficial to detrimental, and evolved sophisticated regulatory mechanisms to control these interactions. The role of terpenes, or more...
Grapevine Bois noir (BN) is associated with infection by "Candidatus Phytoplasma solani" (CaPsol). In this study, an array of CaPsol strains was identified from 142 symptomatic grapevines in vineyards of northern, central, and southern Italy and North Macedonia. Molecular typing of the CaPsol strains was carried out by analysis of genes encoding 16...
Bois noir is a grapevine disease causing severe yield loss in vineyards worldwide. It is associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, a phloem-limited bacterium transmitted by polyphagous insects. Due to its complex epidemiology, it is difficult to organize effective containment measures. This study aimed to describe the bacterial microbiota as...
Plasmopara viticola (Berk. et Curt.) Berl. and de Toni, the agent of downy mildew, is one of the most important pathogens of European grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Extensive evaluation of cultivated grapevine germplasm has highlighted the existence of resistant phenotypes in the Georgian (Southern Caucasus) germplasm. Resistance is shown as a redu...
Downy mildew, caused by the Oomycete Plasmopara viticola, is one of the most important diseases affecting the Eurasian grapevine, Vitis vinifera. The pathogen originated in Northern America and its presence was signalled for the first time into Europe in 1878. In this study, the genetic variability and structure of Italian P. viticola population wa...
Bois noir (BN), associated with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (CaPsol), is the most widespread disease of the grapevine yellows complex worldwide. In this work, BN epidemiology was investigated in a case study vineyard where an unusual CaPsol strain, previously detected only in other host plants, was found to be prevalent in grapevine. Experiment...
Bois noir (BN), associated with 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (CaPsol), is the most widespread disease of the grapevine yellows complex worldwide. In this work, BN epidemiology was investigated in a case study vineyard where an unusual CaPsol strain, previously detected only in other host plants, was found to be prevalent in grapevine. Experiment...
Mgaloblishvili, a Vitis vinifera cultivar, exhibits unique resistance traits against Plasmopara viticola, the downy mildew agent. This offers the unique opportunity of exploring the molecular responses in compatible and incompatible plant-pathogen interaction. In this study, whole transcriptomes of Mgaloblishvili, Pinot noir (a V. vinifera suscepti...
BACKGROUND
Resistance to fungicides is one of the aspects that must be considered when planning treatments to achieve an optimal control of grey mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, in vineyards. In this study, extensive fungicide resistance monitoring was carried out in Northern Italy (Lombardy region) to evaluate several aspects of fungicide resista...
Bois noir, a disease of the grapevine yellows complex, is associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ and transmitted to grapevines in open fields by the cixiids Hyalesthes obsoletus and Reptalus panzeri. In vine-growing areas where the population density of these vectors is low within the vineyard, the occurrence of bois noir implies the exist...
'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' (subgroup 16SrIX-B) strains associated with almond witches’-broom disease in Lebanon and Iran were typed by PCR-based amplification and sequence analyses of rplV-rpsC and secY genes. Results showed that Iranian and Lebanese AlmWB-associated phytoplasma strain populations constitute at least two distinct genetic l...
We evaluated if grafting of recovered material on symptomatic and symptomless grapevines can have curative and preventive effects against Bois noir. Symptom observation and molecular detection of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' were conducted on grafted and ungrafted grapevines. Percentage of symptomatic and infected plants was significantly reduce...
During field surveys carried out from 2013 to 2017 in the eight main peach producing provinces of Iran, symptoms of a phytoplasma-like peach witches'-broom disease (PWIB), inducing severe yellowing, little leaf, internode shortening, crown and stem witches’-broom, decline, and death, were observed. The aim of this work was to identify and character...
During field surveys carried out from 2012 to 2017 in seven provinces of Iran, phytoplasma-like symptoms were observed in apricot (yellows) and peach (witches'-broom). The aim of this work was to identify and characterize the agent(s) associated with such diseases by biological assays and molecular analyses. Healthy bitter almond and apricot or pea...
Bois noir (BN), the most prevalent disease of the grapevine yellows complex, causes considerable yield loss in vineyards. BN is associated with phytoplasma strains of the species ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (taxonomic subgroup 16SrXII‐A). In Europe, the BN phytoplasma is transmitted to grapevine mainly by Hyalesthes obsoletus, a polyphagous cix...
N. Salem and R. Tahzima are sharing first authorship of this work.
This communication will provide the latest information about the progress of the “Research Project for the Study of Georgian Grapes and Wine Culture”, managed by the National Wine Agency of Georgia since 2014. Local and foreign institutions continue to work together with the aim of stimulating multidisciplinary scientific research activity on Georg...
The present work aimed to investigate the aetiology of a disease affecting tomato in Oltrepò pavese
(Lombardy, North Italy). During field surveys carried out in a tomato plantation in August 2015, symptoms
typically associated with phytoplasma infection (leaf purpling, witches’-broom, flower and fruit alterations,
and stunting) were observed on tom...
Sustainable approaches to control phytoplasma-associated diseases are of utmost importance. The use of phytoplasma-resistant host plants and of phytoplasma-free material for new plantings could represent a starting point for phytoplasma disease management. The early identification of infected host plants and insect vectors represent necessary tools...
Almond witches’ broom associated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ is an economically im-portant disease of almond in Iran and Lebanon. During surveys of almond witches’ broom in 2012–2015, an apri-cot yellows disease was observed in Fars Province of Iran. The characteristic symptoms of the disease were leaf yellowing, inward leaf curl, scor...
Bois Noir (BN) is a Grapevine Yellows (GY) disease largely spread in the main viticultural areas worldwide. 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' is the BN etiological agent. Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), based on tufB, secY, vmp1 and stamp genes, contributes to increase knowledge about its genetic variability. In this study, MLST analysis on the b...
The present chapter focuses on phytoplasmas and phytoplasma diseases affecting stone, pome, and small fruit worldwide. An outlook is also provided on other fruit tree species growing mainly in tropical and subtropical areas that are oftern infected by phytoplasma diseases usually associated with crop losses or loss of fruit quality and marketabilit...
In the present study, transmission trials have been carried out to investigate the possible capability of transmitting the "bois noir" phytoplasma (BN) ('Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', subgroup 16SrXII-A) to grapevine of phloem-feeding insect species prevalent in a vineyard in Franciacorta (Lombardy region, North Italy). Specimens of the 10 preval...
Nettle (Urtica dioica) and bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) are the main host plants of the ''bois noir'' phytoplasma (BN, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani', 16SrXII-A) and its major insect vector, Hyalesthes obsoletus, in central and western Europe. In Israel, the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is the main host plant of H. obsoletus, but does not h...
The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera), an Old World species now cultivated worldwide for high-quality wine production, is extremely susceptible to the agent of downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola. The cultivation of resistant V. vinifera varieties would be a sustainable way to reduce the damage caused by the pathogen and the impact of disease manag...
Citrus Decline Disease was recently reported to affect several citrus species in Iran whengrafted on a local rootstock variety, Bakraee. Preliminary studies found “CandidatusPhytoplasmaaurantifoliae” and “CandidatusLiberibacter asiaticus” as putative etiological agents, but were notultimately able to determine which one, or if an association of bot...
Bois Noir (BN) is the most widespread disease of the grapevine yellows complex in the Euro-Mediterranean area. BN is caused by 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (BNp), transmitted from herbaceous plants to grapevine by polyphagous insect vectors. In this study, genetic diversity among BNp strains, their prevalence and possible association with grapev...
Flavescence dorée (FD) has been defined as the disease that is caused by a phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrV (elm yellows) and transmitted to plants by the insect Scaphoideus titanus Ball. We investigated transmission of FD agent by S. titanus in a vineyard located in Veneto region to determine which phytoplasma(s) may be transmitted in this re...
A lethal disease of stone fruit trees, characterized by proliferation of axillary shoots and witches' broom symptoms, has caused severe problems for more than 200,000 almond, peach and nectarine plants in Lebanon since the 1990s. The agent associated with almond witches' broom (AlmWB) was identified as 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium', belonging...
Pest Risk Analysis for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ (Bacteria: Acholeplasmataceae) causing almond witches’ broom
Overall assessment of risk: ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’, causal agent of almond witches’ broom, is currently reported only in Iran and Lebanon. Vectors (Asymmetrasca decedens and two Tachycixius species) have been identified and other pot...
This study was carried out in Ticino during the 2013–2015 time period. Its objective was to establish the presence of alternative insect vectors and plant hosts for grapevine flavescence dorée (FD). The results show that while the mosaic leafhopper Orientus ishidae constitutes a second vector of FD, it does not help spread the disease in an epidemi...
Flavescence dorée (FD), a quarantine phytoplasma disease caused by “Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis”, a phytoplasma of the Elm Yellows or 16Sr-V group, is transmitted epidemically by Scaphoideus titanus, a monovoltine leafhopper accidentally introduced to France from North America in the 1950s. FD appeared for the first time in Switzerland in 2004 in...
BACKGROUND
Despite anti‐resistance strategies are recommended to reduce the selection pressure towards insensitive strains, no information is available on the fungal population dynamics following their criteria in real field conditions. In this study the effect on Plasmopara viticola population of two identical spray programs, differing only for in...
Severe decline of mature grapevines has recently been observed in
several vineyards in grape regions in northern Tunisia. Between August 2011 and June 2013, wood
samples from diseased vines showing dead spur and cordons, shoot dieback associated with sunken
necrotic bark lesions and brown to black vascular streaking were collected from numerous...
Since 2010, a new emerging citrus decline disease (CDD) widely spread in Southern Kerman region of Iran, killing around 10% of cultivated citrus species trees. CDD can be observed in at least six-years old sweet orange, grapefruit, and mandarin plants grafted on Bakraee (Golein et al. 2012), a local citrus variety largely employed as rootstock. Ear...
Phytoplasmas associated with Flavescence dorée (FDp) grapevine disease are quarantine pathogens controlled through mandatory measures including the prompt eradication and destruction of diseased plants, and the insecticide treatments against the insect vector, the ampelophagous leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus. In the present study, a multidisciplina...
Bois noir of grapevines is attributed to infection by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ strains, taxonomic subgroups 16SrXII-A, -F, and -G. Plant-to-plant transmission by polyphagous leafhoppers determined that ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ strains exist in diverse plant hosts in varied ecosystems, where selection conceivably influences intra-species stra...
The development of new sustainable containment strategies of plant diseases is very important to guarantee food security while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Research of new biocontrol agents is a long and difficult process that involves several steps that start from the identification of possible candidates which, for example, s...
LEGENDS
Fig. S1. Unique signature sequence and distinguishing sequence blocks specific of ‘Ca. P. solani’ in 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences of BN phytoplasma strains identified in vineyards of Marche and Abruzzi regions.
Fig. S2. Phylogenetic tree inferred from phytoplasmal 16S rDNA F2nR2 fragments.
Fig. S3. Virtual, collective RFLP patterns (from u...