Rubbery Taproot Disease of Sugar Beet in Serbia Associated with ‘<i>Candidatus</i> Phytoplasma solani’

Rubbery taproot disease (RTD) of sugar beet was observed in Serbia for the first time 1960s. The already described neighboring Bulgaria and Romania at but it associated with abiotic factors. In this study on RTD its main growing area Serbia, we provide evidence association between ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (stolbur phytoplasma) infection occurrence typical symptomatology. ‘Ca. P. identified by PCR sequence analyses 16S ribosomal RNA, tuf, secY, stamp genes. contrast, causative agent syndrome “basses richesses” beet—namely, Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’—was not detected. Sequence analysis stolbur strain’s tuf gene confirmed a previously reported new, distinct genotype (named ‘tuf d’) that is prevalent beet. signatures as well one both correlate epidemiological cycle reservoir plant host. This provides knowledge that, time, enables differentiation strains from closely related strains, thereby providing necessary information further work seeking to identify insect vectors hosts. results indicate there are differences hybrid susceptibility. Clarifying etiology long-known economically important certainly step toward management countries.