Temporal dynamics of the transmission of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca by Philaenus spumarius to olive plants

Abstract

The spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) is the predominant vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) (Xf) to olive trees in the Apulia Region of Italy. Previous studies focused on assessing Xf transmission competence by spittlebugs and the natural infectivity of the P. spumarius populations. However, factors influencing Xf transmission by P. spumarius are largely unknown and these knowledge gaps hamper the comprehension of the epidemiology of Xf-associated emerging diseases. We performed two sets of experiments to study transmission biology of Xf by P. spumarius aimed at understanding the kinetics of the bacterial persistence, transmission efficiency and the spread rate