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Molecular Characterization of Phytoplasmas Related to Apple Proliferation and Aster Yellows Groups Associated with Pear Decline Disease in Iran
Author(s) -
HashemiTameh Mahdis,
Bahar Masoud,
Zirak Leila
Publication year - 2014
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/jph.12245
Subject(s) - pear , phytoplasma , aster yellows , biology , primer (cosmetics) , restriction fragment length polymorphism , botany , 16s ribosomal rna , polymerase chain reaction , genetics , gene , chemistry , organic chemistry
Pear trees showing pear decline disease symptoms were observed in pear orchards in the centre and north of Iran. Detection of phytoplasmas using universal primer pair P1A/P7A followed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 in nested PCR confirmed association of phytoplasmas with diseased pear trees. However, PCR using group‐specific primer pairs R16(X)F1/R16(X)R1 and rp(I)F1A/rp(I)R1A showed that Iranian pear phytoplasmas are related to apple proliferation and aster yellows groups. Moreover, PCR results using primer pair ESFYf/ESFYr specific to 16SrX‐B subgroup indicated that ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma prunorum’ is associated with pear decline disease in the north of Iran. RFLP analyses using Hae III , Hha I, Hin fI , Hpa II and Rsa I restriction enzymes confirmed the PCR results. Partial 16S rRNA, imp , rp and secY genes sequence analyses approved that ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma pyri’ and ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma asteris’ cause pear decline disease in the centre of Iran, whereas ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma prunorum’ causes disease in the north of Iran. This is the first report of the association of ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma asteris’ and ‘ Ca . Phytoplasma prunorum’ with pear decline disease worldwide.