In recent years, the bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (CaLsol) has been increasingly reported to occur in Europe. It can cause massive damage to potatoes and other solanaceous plants (Solanaceae) as well as some umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae), especially carrots.
After the first confirmed detection of CaLsol on symptomatic carrots(Daucus carota) and celery(Apium graveolens) in Austria in 2014, investigations on plants and vectors in this infested area (Inntal near Innsbruck, Tyrol) were carried out within the EUPHRESCO projects PhyLibII and WEEDVECT from 2016 to 2019. Plants (various Apiaceae and Solanaceae) from cultivated fields and field margins as well as the potential vectors (leaf fleas) were collected by tapping samples from the plants (mainly from carrots showing symptoms) and tested for the presence of CaLsol. CaLsol could only be detected in Apiaceae species, including hogweed(Heracleum sphondylium) for the first time, but not in representatives of the Solanaceae. CaLsol was also detected in the examined leaf fleas, Trioza apicalis (Triozidae). The high number of infected leaf fleas was striking, with a much higher proportion of infected females than males.
Original paper
Lethmayer, C. & Gottsberger, R.A. (2020): First report of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' in common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) in Austria. - New Disease Reports 42, 17. http://dx.doi.org/10.5197/j.2044-0588.2020.042.017