scholarly journals First Report of Aster Yellows-Related Subgroup I-A Phytoplasma Strains in Carrot, Phlox, Sea-Lavender, Aconitum, and Hyacinth in Lithuania

Plant Disease ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (7) ◽  
pp. 804-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Valiunas ◽  
A. Alminaite ◽  
J. Staniulis ◽  
R. Jomantiene ◽  
R. E. Davis
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Aster Yellows ◽  
Mature Leaves ◽  
Young Leaves ◽  
Sea Lavender ◽  
The Baltic

Phytoplasma strains that belong to group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group), subgroup A (I-A, North American tomato big bud phytoplasma subgroup) were discovered in diverse plant species in Lithuania. Plants in which the strains were found exhibited symptoms characteristic of infections by phytoplasma. Carrot (Daucus sativus) with carrot proliferation disease exhibited symptoms of proliferation of the crown, chlorosis of young leaves, and reddening of mature leaves. Diseased phlox (Phlox paniculata) exhibited symptoms of virescence and leaf chlorosis. Diseased sea-lavender (Limonium sinuatum) exhibited abnormal proliferation of shoots, chlorosis of young leaves, reddening of mature leaves, and degeneration of flowers. Diseased hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) exhibited chlorosis of leaves and undeveloped flowers. Diseased Aconitum sp. exhibited proliferation of shoots. Phytoplasma-characteristic ribosomal (r) DNA was detected in the plants by use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The rDNA was amplified in PCR primed by primer pair P1/P7 and reamplified in nested PCR primed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (F2n/R2), as previously described (1). The phytoplasmas were classified through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA, amplified in the nested PCR primed by F2n/R2, using single endonuclease enzyme digestion with AluI, MseI, KpnI, HhaI, HaeIII, HpaI, HpaII, RsaI, HinfI, TaqI, and Sau3AI. Collective RFLP patterns indicated that all detected phytoplasma strains were affiliated with subgroup I-A. The 16S rDNA amplified from the phytoplasma (CarrP phytoplasma) in diseased carrot was cloned in Escherichia coli, sequenced, and the sequence deposited in the GenBank data library (GenBank accession no. AF291682). The 16S rDNAs of CarrP and tomato big bud (GenBank acc. no. AF222064) phytoplasmas shared 99.8% nucleotide sequence similarity. Phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrIII (3), group 16SrV (D. Valiunas, unpublished data), and subgroup I-C in group 16SrI (2,3) occur in Lithuania. This report records the first finding of a subgroup I-A phytoplasma in the Baltic region and expands the known plant host range of this phytoplasma subgroup. References: (1) R. Jomantiene et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:269, 1998. (2) Jomantiene et al. Phytopathology 90:S39, 2000. (3) Staniulis et al. Plant Dis. 84:1061, 2000.

scholarly journals First Report of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma in Alfalfa

Plant Disease ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 488-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Peters ◽  
M. E. Lee ◽  
C. R. Grau ◽  
S. J. Driscoll ◽  
R. M. Winberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Similarity Function ◽  
Sterile Water ◽  
Aster Yellows ◽  
First Report ◽  
Pcr Product ◽  
Aster Yellows Phytoplasma

Samples of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) leaves and stems showing symptoms of inter-veinal chlorosis and purpling, commonly associated with insect feeding, were collected from 8 sites in central and southern Wisconsin in autumn of 1998. Samples were frozen within 24 h of collection. Approximately 0.3 g of plant tissue from each sample was used for total DNA extraction according to the protocol of Zhang et al. (4), with minor modifications in grinding procedures and reagent volumes to optimize results. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out by amplification of 16S rDNA with the universal primer pairs R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 as described by Gunder-sen and Lee (1). Undiluted total sample DNA was used for the first amplification; PCR products were diluted (1:30) in sterile water prior to final amplification. Alfalfa DNA and sterile water were used as negative controls; DNA from phytoplasma causing X-disease in peach (CX) served as a positive control. Fragments of 16S rDNA from putative phytoplasmas amplified by PCR with the primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 were characterized by restriction endonuclease digestion (3). The resulting restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were compared with patterns for known phytoplasmas described by Lee et al. (3). Products of nested PCR were also purified and sequenced with primers R16F2n/R16R2 and an automated DNA sequencer (ABI 377XL; C. Nicolet, Biotechnology Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison). Of 51 samples of alfalfa assessed, one sample from Evansville, WI, yielded a nested PCR product of the appropriate size (1.2 kb), indicating the presence of phytoplasma. Digestion of this product with various restriction enzymes produced RFLP patterns that were identical to those for phytoplasmas in the aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup 16SrI-A (3). Alignment of the DNA sequence of the nested PCR product from the positive sample with sequences found in the GenBank sequence data base (National Center for Biotechnology Information, Bethesda, MD) with the BLAST sequence similarity function confirmed this result. Although other phytoplasma strains (particularly those causing witches'-broom) have been reported to infect alfalfa (2), this is the first report of the presence of the aster yellows phytoplasma in the alfalfa crop. Vectors involved in transmission and the potential agronomic impacts of aster yellows phytoplasma in alfalfa are topics of current investigation. References: (1) D. E. Gundersen and I.-M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (2) A.-H. Khadhair et al. Microbiol. Res. 152:269, 1997. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (4) Y.-P. Zhang et al. J. Virol. Methods 71:45, 1998.

scholarly journals First Report of Phytoplasmas in Soybean, Alfalfa, and Lupinus sp. in Lithuania

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jomantiene ◽  
R. E. Davis ◽  
L. Antoniuk ◽  
J. Staniulis
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence Data ◽  
Aster Yellows ◽  
Veinal Necrosis ◽  
Aster Yellows Phytoplasma

Plants of cultivated soybean (Glycine max) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in Dotnuva and of wild Lupinus sp. in Ledakalnis, Lithuania, exhibited symptoms that suggested phytoplasmal infections. Soybean plants were of normal growth habit but exhibited veinal necrosis. Alfalfa and Lupinus plants exhibited stunting, abnormally small leaves, and witches'-broom symptoms. Diseases in the plants were termed soybean veinal necrosis (SVN), alfalfa stunt (AlfS), and Lupinus stunt (LupS), respectively. The presence of phytoplasmas in diseased plants was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of phytoplasma-specific 16S rDNA. A phytoplasma-characteristic 1.2-kbp DNA fragment was amplified from all diseased plants but not from known healthy plants in nested PCRs in which the first DNA amplification was primed by primer pair P1/P7 and reamplification of DNA was primed by primer pair F2n/R2 (2,4). Products from the nested PCR primed by F2n/R2 were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, and the RFLP patterns obtained were compared with patterns previously published (1–4). On the basis of AluI, HaeIII, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and RsaI RFLP patterns, the SVN and LupS phytoplasmas were classified in group 16SrIII (peach X-disease phytoplasma group), subgroup B (III-B, type strain clover yellow edge phytoplasma), and the AlfS phytoplasma was classified in group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group), subgroup B (I-B, type strain aster yellows phytoplasma). Nucleotide sequences were determined for 16S rDNA fragments amplified from SVN and AlfS phytoplasmas in nested PCRs primed by F2n/R2. The sequences were deposited in GenBank under Accession nos. AF177383 for SVN and AF177384 for AlfS. Sequence similarity between the 16S rDNAs of SVN and Canadian clover yellow edge (strain CYE-C, GenBank Accession no. AF175304) phytoplasmas was 99.8%; sequence similarity between 16S rDNAs of AlfS and aster yellows (strain SAY, GenBank Accession no. M86340) phytoplasmas was 99.6%. The SVN phytoplasma 16S rDNA shared 100% sequence similarity with a 16S rDNA from the Lithuanian clover yellow edge (CYE-L, GenBank Accession no. AF173558) phytoplasma. The nucleotide sequence data supported the conclusion that the SVN and AlfS phytoplasmas were closely related to strains classified in subgroups III-B and I-B, respectively. Our findings extend the known geographic ranges of phytoplasma subgroups I-B and III-B to northern Europe, including Lithuania, and expand the known plant host ranges of these pathogens. References: (1) R. E. Davis et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 47:262, 1997. (2) R. Jomantiene et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:269, 1998. (3) R. Jomantiene et al. HortScience 33:1069, 1998. (4) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.

scholarly journals First Report of Oat as Host of a Phytoplasma Belonging to Group 16SrI, Subgroup A

Plant Disease ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jomantiene ◽  
R. E. Davis ◽  
A. Alminaite ◽  
D. Valiunas ◽  
R. Jasinskaite
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Universal Primer ◽  
Intergenic Spacer Region ◽  
Group I

Diseased plants of oat (Avena sativa L.) exhibiting abnormal proliferation of spikelets were observed in the field in Raseniai, Lithuania. The possible association of a phytoplasma with the disease, termed oat proliferation (OatP), was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of phytoplasmal ribosomal (r) RNA gene (rDNA) sequences from template DNA extracted from the diseased oats. DNA extractions and nested PCRs were conducted as previously described (2). In the nested PCRs, the first reaction was primed by phytoplasma-universal primer pair P1/P7, and the second (nested) PCR was primed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (F2n/R2). Phytoplasmal rDNA was amplified in the nested PCR, indicating that the plants contained a phytoplasma, designated oat proliferation (OatP) phytoplasma. The OatP phytoplasma was identified and classified according to the system of Lee et al. (2) through restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA amplified in the PCR primed by F2n/R2. On the basis of collective RFLP patterns of the 16S rDNA, the OatP phytoplasma was classified as a member of group 16SrI (group I, aster yellows phytoplasma group). The RFLP patterns of the 16S rDNA were indistinguishable from those of 16S rDNA from tomato big bud (BB) phytoplasma and other phytoplasmas classified in group I, subgroup A (subgroup I-A, tomato big bud phytoplasma subgroup). The 1.8-kbp rDNA product of PCR primed by primer pair P1/P7 was cloned, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The sequence was deposited in GenBank under Accession No. AF453416. Results from putative restriction site analysis of the cloned and sequenced rDNA were in excellent agreement with the results from enzymatic RFLP analysis of uncloned rDNA from OatP-diseased oat plants. Sequence similarity between the 1.8-kbp rDNA of OatP phytoplasma and that of BB phytoplasma (GenBank No. AF222064) was 99.2%; 9 of the 14 base changes were in the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region. The base differences in rDNA may signal that the OatP and BB phytoplasmas are mutually distinct in their biologies. Phytoplasmas classified in subgroup I-A have previously been reported in a broad range of plant species in North America and Europe, although there are no previous definitive reports of oat as a host of a subgroup I-A phytoplasma (3,4). In 1977, Fedotina (1) reported electron microscopy of a mycoplasma-like organism (phytoplasma) in pseudorosette-diseased oat plants in Siberia, but the identity of that phytoplasma remains unknown. Subgroup I-A phytoplasma strains are geographically widespread and have been found in numerous plant species (3,4). The discovery reported here, of a subgroup I-A phytoplasma in diseased oats in Lithuania, provokes questions concerning possible impacts of this phytoplasma on oat cultivation in central Europe and other regions. References: (1) V. L. Fedotina. Arch. Phytopathol. Pflanzenschutz 13:177, 1977. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (3) C. Marcone et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 50:1703, 2000. (4) D. Valiunas et al. Plant Dis. 85:804, 2001.

scholarly journals First Report of a Group 16SrI, Subgroup B, Phytoplasma in Diseased Epilobium hirsutum in the Region of Tallin, Estonia

Plant Disease ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 1177-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Alminaite ◽  
R. E. Davis ◽  
D. Valiunas ◽  
R. Jomantiene
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Universal Primer ◽  
Aster Yellows ◽  
First Report ◽  
Intergenic Spacer Region ◽  
Aster Yellows Phytoplasma

Symptoms of phyllody of flowers and general plant yellowing indicating possible phytoplasma infection were observed in diseased plants of hairy willow-weed (Epilobium hirsutum L., family Onagraceae) growing in a meadow at Harku Village near Tallin, Estonia. DNA was extracted from diseased E. hirsutum using a Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Fermentas AB, Vilnius, Lithuania) and used as a template in nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ribosomal (r) DNA was initially amplified in PCR primed by phytoplasma universal primer pair P1/P7 (4) and reamplified in PCR primed by nested primer pair 16SF2n/16SR2 (F2n/R2) (1) as previously described (2). Products of 1.8 kbp and 1.2 kbp were obtained in PCR primed P1/P7 and F2n/R2, respectively, from all four symptomatic plants examined. These data indicated that the diseased E. hirsutum plants were infected by a phytoplasma, termed epilobium phyllody (EpPh) phytoplasma. The 16S rDNA amplified in PCR primed by nested primer pair F2n/R2 was subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using restriction endonucleases AluI, MseI, HpaI, HpaII, HhaI, RsaI, HinfI, and HaeIII (Fermentas AB). On the basis of the collective RFLP profiles, EpPh phytoplasma was classified in group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group), subgroup B (aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup), according to the phytoplasma classification scheme of Lee et al. (3). The 1.8-kbp rDNA product of P1/P7-primed PCR, which included 16S rDNA, 16S-23S intergenic spacer region, and the 5′ -end of 23S rDNA, was cloned in Escherichia coli using the TOPO TA Cloning Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Ca) according to manufacturer's instructions and sequenced. The sequence was deposited in the GenBank database as Accession No. AY101386. This nucleotide sequence shared 99.8% sequence similarity with a comparable rDNA sequence (GenBank Accession No. AF322644) of aster yellows phytoplasma AY1, a known subgroup 16SrI-B strain. The EpPh phytoplasma sequence was highly similar (99.9%) to operons rrnA (GenBank Accession No. AY102274) and rrnB (GenBank Accession No. AY102273) from Valeriana yellows (ValY) phytoplasma infecting Valeriana officinalis plants in Lithuania. ValY phytoplasma was found to exhibit rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity (D. Valiunas, unpublished data). To our knowledge, this is the first report to reveal E. hirsutum as a host of phytoplasma and to demonstrate the occurrence of a plant pathogenic mollicute in the northern Baltic region. References: (1) D. E. Gundersen and I.-M. Lee. Phytopathol. Mediterr. 35:144, 1996. (2) R. Jomantiene et al. HortScience 33:1069, 1998. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (4) B. Schneider et al. Phlogenetic classification of plant pathogenic mycoplasma-like organisms or phytoplasmas. Page 369 in: Molecular and Diagnostic Procedures in Mycoplasmology, Vol 1, R. Razin, and J. G. Tully eds. Academic Press, San Diego, 1995.

scholarly journals First Report of an Aster Yellows Phytoplasma Associated with Cabbage in Southern Texas

Plant Disease ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.-M. Lee ◽  
R. A. Dane ◽  
M. C. Black ◽  
Noel Troxclair
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Restriction Enzymes ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Aster Yellows ◽  
First Report ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Aster Yellows Phytoplasma

In early spring 2000 carrot crops in southwestern Texas were severely infected by an outbreak of phyllody associated with aster yellows phytoplasma. Cabbage crops that had been planted adjacent to these carrot fields began to display previously unobserved symptoms characteristic of phytoplasma infection. Symptoms included purple discoloration in leaf veins and at the outer edges of leaves on cabbage heads. Proliferation of sprouts also occurred at the base of the stem and between leaf layers of some plants, and sprouts sometimes continued to proliferate on extended stems. About 5% of cabbage plants in the field exhibited these symptoms. Two symptomless and four symptomatic cabbage heads were collected in early April from one cabbage field. Veinal tissues were stripped from each sample and used for total nucleic acid extraction. To obtain specific and sufficient amount of PCR products for analysis, nested PCR was performed by using primer pairs (first with P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2) (1,2) universal for phytoplasma detection. A specific 16S rDNA fragment (about 1.2 kb) was strongly amplified from the four symptomatic but not from the two asymptomatic samples. The nested PCR products obtained from the four symptomatic samples were then analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using the restriction enzymes MseI, HhaI, and HpaII, and the RFLP patterns were compared to the published patterns of known phytoplasmas (1). The resulting RFLP patterns were identical to those of a phytoplasma belonging to subgroup B of the aster yellows phytoplasma group (16SrI). These RFLP patterns were also evident in putative restriction sites observed in a 1.5 kbp nucleotide sequence of the 16S rDNA. This is the first report of aster yellows phytoplasma associated disease symptoms in cabbage in Texas. The occurrence of cabbage proliferation coincided with the presence of high populations of the insect vector, aster leafhopper. References: (1) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) B. Schneider et al. 1995. Molecular and Diagnostic Procedures in Mycoplasmology, Vol. I. Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

scholarly journals Detection and identification of a novel 16SrXIII subgroup phytoplasma associated with strawberry red leaf disease in Argentina

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (Pt_8) ◽  
pp. 2741-2747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco D. Fernández ◽  
Natalia G. Meneguzzi ◽  
Fabiana A. Guzmán ◽  
Daniel S. Kirschbaum ◽  
Vilma C. Conci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Universal Primer ◽  
Mature Leaves ◽  
Leaf Disease ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Rflp Profile ◽  
Young Leaves ◽  
Leaf Symptoms

Strawberry red leaf phytoplasma was found in strawberry plants from production fields in Lules (Tucumán province) and Bella Vista (Corrientes province), Argentina. Characteristic strawberry red leaf symptoms were stunting, young leaves with yellowing at the edges, mature leaves which curled and were reddish at the abaxial face, flower and fruit deformation and death. The pathogen was detected with phytoplasma-universal primer pairs P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 as nested primers in 13 diseased plants. Based on RFLP and sequence analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene, the phytoplasma was related to the 16SrXIII group (Mexican periwinkle virescence). In silico the RFLP profile of all the samples analysed revealed the presence of a unique pattern, showing that the novel phytoplasma is different from all the phytoplasmas currently composing the 16SrXIII group. The phylogenetic analysis was consistent with RFLP analysis as the strawberry red leaf phytoplasma was grouped within the 16SrXIII group, but formed a particular cluster. On this basis, the Strawberry red leaf phytoplasma associated with strawberry red leaf disease was assigned to a new subgroup, 16SrXIII-F.

scholarly journals A Sida sp. Is a New Host for “Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense” in Brazil

Plant Disease ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Eckstein ◽  
J. C. Barbosa ◽  
J. A. M. Rezende ◽  
I. P. Bedendo
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Restriction Enzymes ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
New Host ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence Alignment ◽  
Pcr Products

Sida is a genus of flowering herbs in the family Malvaceae, which includes several species that are weeds in Brazil. Plants of a Sida sp. exhibiting symptoms characterized by stunting, chlorosis, small leaves, and witches'-broom, indicative of infection by phytoplasmas, were found in a field previously cultivated with tomato, located in the region of Campinas, State of São Paulo, in December 2008. To demonstrate the presence of phytoplasmas in diseased tissues, DNA was extracted from shoots and leaves from three symptomatic and eight asymptomatic plants. Nested PCR was performed using primers P1/Tint followed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (1). DNA fragments of 1.2 kb, corresponding to 16S rDNA, were amplified only for DNA from two symptomatic samples. Phytoplasma identification was initially carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis through digesting the PCR products with the restriction enzymes AluI, HhaI, HaeIII, HpaII, MseI, and RsaI. The two phytoplasma isolates found to be infecting a Sida sp. showed identical RFLP patterns, which were indistinguishable from the phytoplasma previously reported in association with hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) witches'-broom in Brazil (2). Nucleotide sequence alignment revealed that 16S rDNA of both phytoplasma isolates found in a Sida sp. (GenBank Accession No. HQ230579) shared 99.9% sequence similarity with 16S rDNA from hibiscus witches'-broom phytoplasma (HibWB) (GenBank Accession No. AF147708). HibWB is the representative of the 16SrXV group and it was proposed as a putative species nominated “Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense” (2). The disease is frequently observed in hibiscus plants used as ornamentals in the states of São Paulo (4) and Rio de Janeiro (2). “Ca. Phytoplasma brasiliense” has only been reported in Brazil to be infecting hibiscus (2,4) and periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) (3). The presence of a phytoplasma belonging to group 16SrXV in a Sida sp. expands its natural host range. The role of this weed as a potential source of inoculum for crops should be investigated. References: (1) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (2) H. G. Montano et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 51:1109, 2001. (3) H. G. Montano et al. Plant Dis. 85:1209, 2001. (4) E. G. Silva et al. Summa Phytopathol. 35:234, 2009.

scholarly journals ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense’ (16SrXV-A Subgroup) Associated with Cauliflower Displaying Stunt Symptoms in Brazil

Plant Disease ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Canale ◽  
I. P. Bedendo
Keyword(s):  
Nested Pcr ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
New Host ◽  
Rdna Sequences ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Virtual Rflp ◽  
In The Beginning

Cauliflower stunt, caused by a phytoplasma of the group 16SrIII-J, was reported in the beginning of 2012 and has occurred with high incidences of infected plants (up to 90%) in crops located in the state of São Paulo in the southeast region of Brazil (3). Diseased plants exhibit general stunting, malformation of inflorescence, reddening leaves, and vessel necrosis (3). Further investigations with plants displaying identical symptoms collected in Nova Bassano, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazilian south region, have revealed the presence of a phytoplasma distinct from 16SrIII-J subgroup. Four symptomatic plus four asymptomatic samples were assayed from a field, and the presence of phytoplasma was evidenced by nested PCR assays performed with primers P1/Tint followed by R16F2n/16R2 in three affected plants, which amplified genomic fragments of 1.2 kb from the 16S rRNA gene. No amplification occurred in non-affected samples. Nested PCR products analyzed by conventional RFLP (2) using the enzymes AluI, RsaI, KpnI, HpaII, MseI, HhaI, MboI, and BstUI pointed to the presence of a phytoplasma belonging to group 16SrXV-A in all three phytoplasma-positive samples. Virtual RFLP analysis based on restriction patterns, derived from in silico digestion with 17 endonucleases (4), confirmed the previous results obtained from those samples by conventional RFLP. The 16S rDNA sequences of this phytoplasma identified in cauliflower (GenBank Accession No. JN818845) shared 99% sequence similarity with the reference phytoplasma for subgroup 16SrXV-A (Hibiscus witches'-broom phytoplasma, AF147708), designated ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense.’ Analysis of putative restriction sites showed excellent identity between the phytoplasma studied here and the reference phytoplasma. In addition, the arrangement of branches of a phylogenetic tree constructed with phytoplasmas representing diverse 16Sr groups and subgroups supported that the phytoplasma found in cauliflower is closed related to the representative of the subgroup 16SrXV-A. Association of distinct phytoplasmas with the same kind of disease is not rare and the present pathosystem constitutes a new example. Members of this subgroup have been described almost exclusively in Brazil and previously reported in Sida sp., periwinkle, and hibiscus (1). In some European countries, as well as in the United States and Canada, phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrI has been associated with this type of disease, which has been reported for various species of the genus Brassica, as published in previous works (3). However, a representative of the group 16SrVI was described in infected plants in Iran (3). Although the 16SrIII-J phytoplasma is currently the most important agent of cauliflower stunt in Brazil, and members of 16SrI are prevalent in other countries, this study revealed that a 16Sr XV-A phytoplasma may be also associated with this important disease of brassicas. Besides, the findings here reported expand the natural host range, including cauliflower as new host for phytoplasmas affiliated with 16SrXV-A. References: (1) B. Eckstein et al. Plant Dis. 95:363, 2009. (2) I. M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (3) M. C. C. Rappussi et al. Eur. J. Plant. Pathol. 133:829, 2012. (4) Wei et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 57:1855, 2007.

scholarly journals ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma spartii’, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma rhamni’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma allocasuarinae’, respectively associated with spartium witches'-broom, buckthorn witches'-broom and allocasuarina yellows diseases

2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 1025-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Marcone ◽  
K. S. Gibb ◽  
C. Streten ◽  
B. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
16S Rdna ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rdna Sequence ◽  
Apple Proliferation ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
16S Rdna Sequence ◽  
Natural Plant ◽  
Spartium Junceum ◽  
Yellows Diseases

Spartium witches'-broom (SpaWB), buckthorn witches'-broom (BWB) and allocasuarina yellows (AlloY) are witches'-broom and yellows diseases of Spartium junceum (Spanish broom), Rhamnus catharticus (buckthorn) and Allocasuarina muelleriana (Slaty she-oak), respectively. These diseases are associated with distinct phytoplasmas. The SpaWB, BWB and AlloY phytoplasmas share <97·5 % 16S rDNA sequence similarity with each other and with other known phytoplasmas, including the closely related phytoplasmas of the apple proliferation group. Also, the SpaWB, BWB and AlloY phytoplasmas each have a different natural plant host. Based on their unique properties, it is proposed to designate the mentioned phytoplasmas as novel ‘Candidatus’ species under the names ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma spartii’, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma rhamni’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma allocasuarinae’, respectively.

scholarly journals Molecular Identification of a Phytoplasma Associated with Witches'-Broom Disease of Black Raspberry in Oregon and Its Classification in Group 16SrIII, New Subgroup Q

Plant Disease ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
pp. 1121-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Davis ◽  
E. L. Dally ◽  
R. H. Converse
Keyword(s):  
Nucleotide Sequence ◽  
16S Rdna ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Black Raspberry ◽  
Rflp Pattern ◽  
Nucleotide Sequence Data ◽  
Group Iii

Plants of Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) ‘Munger’ exhibiting symptoms of black raspberry witches'-broom (BRWB) disease were observed in commercial fields in Oregon (1). Symptoms were often severe, leading to death of infected plants, and a phytoplasma (mycoplasmalike bodies) was observed in ultrathin sections of diseased plants (1). In the current work, the association of phytoplasma with BRWB was assessed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for specific amplification of phytoplasmal rDNA. DNA template for use in the PCR was extracted from plants as described elsewhere (2). Phytoplasmal 16S rDNA was amplified from diseased black raspberry plants in PCR primed by primer pair P1/P7 and reamplified in nested PCR primed by primer pair R16F2n/R2 (F2n/R2) by a method described previously (2). These results indicated the presence of a phytoplasma, designated BRWB phytoplasma, in the diseased plants. Identification of BRWB phytoplasma was accomplished by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of DNA amplified in PCR primed by F2n/R2. Phytoplasma classification was done according to the system of Lee et al. (3). On the basis of collective RFLP patterns of the amplified 16S rDNA, the BRWB phytoplasma was classified as a member of group 16SrIII (group III, X-disease phytoplasma group). The HhaI RFLP pattern of BRWB 16S rDNA differed from that of its close relative, clover yellow edge (CYE) phytoplasma. The RsaI RFLP pattern of BRWB rDNA differed from that of rDNA from all phytoplasmas previously described in group III. Based on these results, BRWB phytoplasma was classified in a new subgroup, designated subgroup Q (III-Q) within group III. The 1.8 kbp DNA product of PCR primed by primer pair P1/P7 was cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. The sequence was deposited in GenBank under Accession no. AF302841. Results from putative restriction site analysis of the cloned and sequenced rDNA were in excellent agreement with the results from enzymatic RFLP analysis of uncloned rDNA amplified from BRWB diseased black raspberry. Sequence similarity between the 1.8 kbp rDNA of BRWB phytoplasma and that of CYE phytoplasma was 99.4%. The nucleotide sequence data support the conclusion that the BRWB phytoplasma is related to, but is distinct from, other strains that are classified in group III. These findings contribute knowledge about the diversity of phytoplasmas affiliated with group III and provide information to aid the diagnosis of BRWB disease. References: (1) R. H. Converse et al. Plant Dis. 66:949, 1982. (2) R. Jomantiene et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:269, 1998. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998.

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