Epidemiology of Spiroplasma citri in the Old World

Epidemics of citrus stubborn disease (CSD) have been known in the Mediterranean citrus-growing areas as early as 1928. One such outbreak of stubborn disease occurred around 1980 in newly established citrus nurseries on the Syrian coast. Natural transmission of Spiroplasma citri could be shown to be involved. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and culture of S. citri were used to detect the presence of S. citri in leafhoppers. Over 50 leafhopper species were submitted to these analyses, not only in Syria but also in Morocco and France (Corsica) from 1978 to 1985. Neoaliturus (Circulifer) haematoceps was the only species found to harbor the spiroplasma in Morocco, Syria and France (Corsica). Leafhoppers of this species were collected in Corsica, raised in Bordeaux and shown to be vectors of S. citri. The search for N. haematoceps in nature has revealed that Salsola kali (Chenopodiacae) is a favored host plant of this leafhopper. This plant has a wide geographical distribution. In Iran, for instance, it is well known, and grows close to sugar beet and citrus-growing areas. In such areas, sugar beet is known to be infected by curly top virus, and citrus by CSD. N. haematoceps is a vector of both of these diseases. N. tenellus, the vector of S. citri in the USA, is present in the Mediterranean area, but in view of its paucity it does not seem to be a major vector there. In Iran, even though less abundant than N. haematoceps, it could play a role in S. citri transmission.