Aster yellows phytoplasmas (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, AY) have a wide host range and are transmitted in a persistent manner by Phloem - feeding leafhoppers and planthoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Recently, aster yellows phytoplasmas have been "eported for the first time in carrot fields in Serbia (Duduk et al., 2007). In order to find out potential vectors of identified phytoplasmas to Qarrots, and phytoplasmas occurring in infected insects, during 2007 and 08 leafhoppers were collected and tested fO( tbe presence of Phytoplasmas. The insects were trapped from the beginning of April to the &nd of October, in two sites in the South Bagka region of Serbia (Bege¢ and 2ge¢ bogland), where phytoplasma associated diseases incidence was "eported. Aduylt leafhoppers were sampled at two-week intervals, in carrot fieldg and weeds nearby, by using double-sided, yellow sticky traps (25x10) and by sweep netting in both S\tesf nucleic acids. Phytoplasma d on in and identified before extraction O - P assays identified insects was carried out by nested PCR-RFLP assays on 163 mbnsorr;z':gheehiurvcyed sites the presence of four known veclors of ay atagallia laevis (Ribaut), Macrosfe/eS B e e (krsehncum) i 11 s rffz‘fi:n)((Duduk at al., 2008). Other six leafhopper spzaes,v wrzlch are not fmown, according to literature as AY vectors but reporl? as vectors of other phytoplasmas and/or viruses, Anaceratagallia ribauti (Ossiannilsson), 4 venosa (Fourcroy), Empoasca spp., Scaphoideus t/v(anusb (Ball), Psammotettix alienus (Dahlbom), P. striatus (Linnaeus) were identfied. The other five identified species, Eupteryx mellissae (Curtis), Ophiola decumana (Kontkanen), Psammotettix confinis (Dahlbom), P. notatus (Melichar) ang Errastanus ocellaris (Fallén), are not known in literature as vectors of any plant pathogen. AY phytoplasmas were detected in the following vector and nonvector leafhopper species: A. /aevis, A ribauti, M. quadripunctulatus, M. sexnotatus, O. decumana i P. confinis. Since the detection of AY phytoplasmas in previously unreported vector species is not a proof of their vector abilities, further research is needed to verify ability of A ribauti, 0. decumana and P. confinis to transmit AY phytoplasmas to carrot and to other phytoplasma host plants.

Zlatibor, 23-27.novembar 2009.godine