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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Recilia banda kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a vector of napier stunt phytoplasma in Kenya
Naturwissenschaften, Volume 96, No. 10, Year 2009
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Description
Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is the most important fodder crop in smallholder dairy production systems in East Africa, characterized by small zero-grazing units. It is also an important trap crop used in the management of cereal stemborers in maize in the region. However, production of Napier grass in the region is severely constrained by Napier stunt disease. The etiology of the disease is known to be a phytoplasma, 16SrXI strain. However, the putative insect vector was yet unknown. We sampled and identified five leafhopper and three planthopper species associated with Napier grass and used them as candidates in pathogen transmission experiments. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), based on the highly conserved 16S gene, primed by P1/P6-R16F2n/R16R2 nested primer sets was used to diagnose phytoplasma on test plants and insects, before and after transmission experiments. Healthy plants were exposed for 60 days to insects that had fed on diseased plants and acquired phytoplasma. The plants were then incubated for another 30 days. Nested PCR analyses showed that 58.3% of plants exposed to Recilia banda Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) were positive for phytoplasma and developed characteristic stunt disease symptoms while 60% of R. banda insect samples were similarly phytoplasma positive. We compared the nucleotide sequences of the phytoplasma isolated from R. banda, Napier grass on which these insects were fed, and Napier grass infected by R. banda, and found them to be virtually identical. The results confirm that R. banda transmits Napier stunt phytoplasma in western Kenya, and may be the key vector of Napier stunt disease in this region. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.
Authors & Co-Authors
Obura, E.
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Midega, Charles Aura Odhiambo
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Masiga, Daniel K.
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Pickett, John Anthony
United Kingdom, Hertfordshire
Harpenden
Hassan, Mohamed
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Koji, S.
Japan, Kanazawa
Kanazawa University
Khan, Zeyaur Rahman
Kenya, Nairobi
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology Nairobi
Statistics
Citations: 26
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s00114-009-0578-x
ISSN:
00281042
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Kenya