Abstract

RUBIO COVARRUBIAS, Oswaldo Ángel et al. Distribution of potato purple top and Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. in the main potato production zones in Mexico. Agric. Téc. Méx [online]. 2006, vol.32, n.2, pp.201-211. ISSN 0568-2517.

Symptoms of potato purple top are caused by phytoplasmas transmitted by leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadelidae) and the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. (Hemiptera: Triozidae). Similar symptoms may also be caused by a toxin that the potato psyllid injects when it is feeding from the phloem sap. To determine the importance and distribution of the potato purple top disease in Mexico, a field sampling was conducted in 2001 in the main potato producing areas. In each area, plants with the disease symptoms were sampled to investigate the presence of phytoplasmas by using the polymerase chain reactions technique. Yellow sticky insects traps were installed in each potato producing area and trapped leafhoppers and B. cockerelli counted. The percentages of the plant samples that were positive in each potato area were: State of Mexico 29%, Coahuila-Nuevo Leon 50%, Tlaxcala 17%, Guanajuato 31%, Jalisco 75% and Sonora 10%. Leafhoppers were present in most of the potato regions, only in the high lands of Tapalpa, Jalisco area the leafhopper populations was low and B. cockerelli was not found. The high population of the disease vectors found in most potato producing areas in Mexico and the high percentages (10-75%) of the plant samples infected by phytoplasmas indicate their importance on restraining the potato production in Mexico.

Keywords : Solanum tuberosum L.; Paratrioza; phytoplasma; potato psyllid.

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