執行成果摘要
Paulownia witches' broom (PaWB) caused by phytoplasma is a systemic disease which can be transmitted by insects. PaWB is the most destructive disease in Paulownia plantation in Taiwan. So far, no effective chemical is available for phytoplasma disease control. Therefore, ecological research of PaWB disease is necessary for providing information to develop a comprehensive prevention and control strategy. In this project, specific and effective PCR primer pairs of PaWB phytoplasma had been designed and applied for PaWB detection, field research and resistant/tolerant breeding. Reference data generated by tracking the phytoplasma infection rate of various paulownia clones in different seasons and the population of vector insect, Changshan erthesina fullo (Halymorpha mista), were supposed to be useful to develop disease and pest control strategies. In this (2014) year, branches of putative infected Paulownia plants in Taitung area were sampled monthly. The infection rate and variation of phytoplasma concentration in Paulownia plants were evaluated monthly by PCR amplification with specific primers. The infection rates of test plants in different months (from February to October, 2014) were 0% (0/4)、20% (1/5)、17.6% (3/17)、83.3% (5/9)、58.8% (10/17)、17.6% (3/17)、23.5% (4/17) and 0% (0/15) respectively. PCR results indicated that the concentrations of phytoplasma in Paulownia plants varied seasonally. Seedlings from different Paulownia clones were also evaluated by PCR twice. PCR results indicated that no phytoplasma was detected in test seedlings.