Population Fluctuation of Zigzag Leafhopper, Recilia dorsalis in Rice Ecosystem

Rice Yellow Dwarf (RYD), a serious problem for rice farmers, has only been detected to date in Asia, where it is recorded from most rice-growing countries (Nakashima et al., 1993). Infected rice turns pale yellow and gradually starts to decay and produce numerous tillers. Sometimes only a faint mottling occurs. Plants infected early normally do not die but produce abnormal heads or no heads, and ultimately show stunted growth and fail to produce grain (Jung et al., 2003). For many years, the agent associated with RYD was believed to be a virus, until it was identified as a phytoplasma, designated as a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma oryzae’ (Jung et al., 2003).