Alder yellows phytoplasmas in alnus species in Serbia

Abstract

The presence of alder yellows and “flavescence dorée” phytoplasmas (16SrV-C) together with their insect vectors have already been reported in Serbia and the Balkans, as well as have similar phytoplasmas in clematis. The presence of alder yellows phytoplasmas in Serbia have been confirmed in black alder plants showing symptoms of severe leaf yellowing and multiple shoot growth from the basal part of the trunk. The results obtained in this work show that all examined Alnus glutinosa trees in Serbia, not exhibiting symptoms but randomly collected among forest trees during a survey, are infected with the alder yellows phytoplasma. However, none of the examined Alnus viridis bushes showed to be infected.