Open AccessMolecular detection and identification of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’-related strain associated with pumpkin witches’ broom in Xinjiang, China
Author(s) -
Xu Wang,
Chunguang Wang,
Xiaoyan Li,
Zhengnan Li
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
phytopathologia mediterranea
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.493
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1593-2095
pISSN - 0031-9465
DOI - 10.36253/phyto-11066
Subject(s) - phytoplasma , biology , broom , 16s ribosomal rna , restriction fragment length polymorphism , strain (injury) , ribosomal rna , botany , gene , polymerase chain reaction , genetics , ecology , anatomy
Pumpkin plants showing symptoms of witches’ broom (PuWB) were observed in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, China, in September 2018. A phytoplasma was detected in symptomatic plants by PCR amplifying portions of the 16S ribosomal and tuf genes. In addition, the phylogeny based on these genes sequencing indicated that the PuWB strain clusters with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (subgroup 16SrXII-A). Furthermore, based on in silico and in vitro restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses, the PuWB phytoplasma was confirmed as a ‘Ca. P. solani’-related strain. This was the first record of the occurrence of phytoplasma presence in pumpkins in China, and the first record of 16SrXII phytoplasma infecting pumpkins in the world.