First Report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’ Strain Related to Witches’-Broom of Tomato in Türkiye

Phytoplasmas are dangerous bacteria severely infecting agricultural production worldwide. In the present study, identification of phytoplasmas tomato plants showing symptoms such as small leaves, flower abnormalities, stunting, witches' broom, and reddening was performed. Five plants, two symptomatic three asymptomatic, were tested to verify phytoplasma infection. Total DNA isolated from 5 leaf samples used a template for PCR reactions. The agents confirmed in samples. BLASTn search 16S rRNA sequences shared identity similarity 99.84% with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’. Computer-simulated virtual RFLP profiles show that is identical reference pattern 16SrII-D subgroup, coefficient 1.00. Based on BLAST, RFLP, phylogenetic dendrogram, identified strains enclosed subgroup. This first report broom disease related subgroup Antalya province Türkiye.