ABUNDANCE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF FLAVESCENCE DORÉE PHYTOPLASMA VECTOR SCAPHOIDEUS TITANUS BALL ON ABANDONED GRAPEVINE IN SOUTHERN ROMANIA

The abundance and population dynamics of Scaphoideus titanus, the natural vector of the quarantine grapevine yellow phytoplasma, Flavescence dorée, (FD) were evaluated with yellow sticky traps on abandoned grapevine of 1.5 ha in the Northern part of Bucharest city (Southern Romania) during 2009-2011. The results revealed that the vector has developed permanent and increased populations every year. The nymphs were recorded from June to July in the year 2009, until August in 2010 and even up to September in 2011.The activity of adults started at the end of June in the year 2009 and at the beginning of July in the years 2010 and 2011. The adult’s flight usually lasted until the middle of October. The present data can be of great help in developing precise control measures against S. titanus. They are the first reported on the population dynamics of Flavescence dorée vector in Romania, and the first time when a case of an abandoned vine infested by this vector has been detected.