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First detection of “ Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris” ‐ and “ Candidatus Phytoplasma solani”‐related strains in fig trees
Author(s) -
Alsaheli Zeinab,
Contaldo Nicoletta,
Mehle Nataša,
Dermastia Marina,
Elbeaino Toufic,
Bertaccini Assunta
Publication year - 2020
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.12868
Subject(s) - phytoplasma , biology , 16s ribosomal rna , candidatus , amplicon , mollicutes , ribosomal rna , ribosomal dna , botany , restriction fragment length polymorphism , nested polymerase chain reaction , phyllody , spiroplasma , polymerase chain reaction , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , bacteria , phylogenetic tree , mycoplasma , gene
Abstract In July 2017, a survey was conducted in a fig collection plot at Locorotondo (south of Italy) to investigate the possible presence of phytoplasmas in plants showing yellowing, deformed leaves, short internodes, mottling and mosaic. Samples were collected from symptomatic plants and tested by nested PCR assays using universal and specific primers to amplify the 16S rDNA of these prokaryotes. PCR results detected the presence of phytoplasma sequences in twenty plant samples that resulted clustering two phylogenetically distinct phytoplasmas, i.e., “ Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris” and “ Candidatus Phytoplasma solani” affiliated to 16SrI and 16SrXII ribosomal groups, respectively. The presence of phytoplasmas belonging to both ribosomal groups was confirmed with group specific quantitative PCR and RFLP assays on 16S ribosomal amplicons. Results of this study indicate for the first time the occurrence of phytoplasmas in fig; however, more work should be carried out to verify their association with the symptoms observed on diseased fig plants.