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Phytoplasma Association with Gerbera Phyllody in Australia
Author(s) -
Siddique A. B. M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of phytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0434
pISSN - 0931-1785
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2005.01036.x
Subject(s) - phytoplasma , phyllody , gerbera , biology , gerbera jamesonii , polymerase chain reaction , virescence , 16s ribosomal rna , phylogenetic tree , botany , genetics , bacteria , restriction fragment length polymorphism , gene
Gerbera ( Gerbera jamesonii L.) plants with phyllody symptoms (green flower) were observed in Central Queensland, Australia. Leaves and flowers from both symptomatic and asymptomatic healthy plants were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of pleomorphic bodies similar to phytoplasma was observed exclusively in diseased plants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with phytoplasma‐specific primers confirmed the presence of phytoplasma DNA in the infected plants. Further DNA sequencing analysis of the PCR product revealed high homology with other phytoplasma DNA in the database. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA the gerbera phyllody phytoplasma was grouped under Peanut witches’ broom as described by Lee et al. (1998). The results of TEM, PCR and sequencing analysis clearly indicate phytoplasmal association with phyllody disease of gerbera.