Transmission of phytoplasma associated with Bunchy Top Symptom of papaya by Empoasca papayae Oman

Transmission tests were conducted with field-collected Bunchy Top Symptoms (BTS) phytoplasma-infected specimens of Empoasca papayae. BTS developed in all eight inoculated papayas 3 months later. The BTS phytoplasma was identified in six of eight inoculated papayas, whose partial 16S rRNA sequence (GenBank Accession no. FJ6492000) was 99.9% identical with those from the collected papayas (GenBank Accession no FJ649198) and E. papayae (GenBank Accession no. FJ649199), all of which are members of group 16SrII, 'Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia'. Results confirmed the ability of E. papayae to transmit the BTS phytoplasma.