Pathogenicity of Corn Stunt Spiroplasma and Maize Bushy Stunt Mycoplasma to Their Vector,Dalbulus longulus

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Abstract
D. longulus is the 7th member of the genus reported as a vector of the corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS) and maize bushy stunt mycoplasma (MBSM). D. longulus was rediscovered in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz where it utilizes maize (Zea mays), Tripsacum laxum, and T. andersonii as hosts. CSS and MBSM significantly shortened the longevity of adult D. longulus as measured by the quartiles of the survival distribution as well as estimated scale parameter of the Weibull survival model. MBSM caused greater morality than did CSS. Similar effects of these mollicutes were reported for other Dalbulus spp. The relative importance of various Mexican Dalbulus spp. as field vectors of CSS and MBSM, based upon their differential sensitivity to these pathogens is examined.