Presence of 16SrIV phytoplasmas of subgroups A, D and E in planthopper Van Duzee insects in Yucatán, Mexico.

The present study was carried out to determine if group 16SrIV phytoplasmas, causing lethal yellowing (LY) disease, are present in Van Duzee (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) insects associated with palms in Yucatán, Mexico. feral insects were captured from palm foliage at two locations (Chicxulub Puerto and CICY, Mérida, where LY-type diseases are active) and evaluated individually for the presence of phytoplasma DNA by a group 16SrIV-specific nested PCR assay. The results showed positive detection in insects in a proportion of 2.