"Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia" is associated with witches' broom disease of lime in Oman and the UAE. A previous study showed that an infection by phytoplasma may not necessarily result in the physical appearance of witches' broom symptoms in some locations in Oman and the UAE. This study investigated whether phytoplasma strains belonging to "Ca. P. aurantifolia" (based on the 16S rRNA g...

Foliar and root symptoms are described for Australian lucerne yellows (ALuY), a disease common in Australian lucerne seed crops. A phytoplasma was detected in plants exhibiting symptoms, but not in symptomless lucerne plants. Oligonucleotide primers specific to the phytoplasma 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (SR) were used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays on DNA extracted from lu...

In Korea, Japanese chestnut trees (Castanea crenata Sieb. and Zucc.) showing symptoms indicative of witches' broom disease, including abnormally small leaves and yellowing of young leaves, were examined. Since the symptoms were suggestive of a phytoplasma infection, tissues were assayed for phytoplasmas by PCR analysis using a pair of universal primers that amplify a 1.4-kbp phytoplasma 16S rDN...

At least 16 taxa of cicadellids and delphacids were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of a phytoplasma in the clover proliferation group, designated 16SrVI. Nucleic acid extracts from individual insects or groups of 5-10 were tested using PCR primers designed from the DNA sequence of 16S-23S rRNA or ribosomal protein genes of the pathogen. The beet leafhopper, Circulife...

Strawberry plants exhibiting symptoms of stunting and abnormally small leaves were observed in production fields in central Florida, USA. Since the symptoms were suggestive of phytoplasma infection, plants were assayed for presence of phytoplasma by PCR amplification of 16S rDNA and ribosomal protein (rp) gene sequences. Amplification of phytoplasma-specific DNA sequences by PCR indicated infec...

During the last two decades, over 800 phytoplasma strains have been reported in association with several hundred plant diseases and numerous insect vectors. Research has yielded new knowledge about phytoplasma ecology and phylogenetic relationships. A taxonomic system has emerged, and perspectives on phytoplasma speciation have changed. Guidelines for naming new ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species...

the witches’ broom disease of lime trees is a destructing disease caused by the bacterium candidatus phytoplasma aurantofolia (1). the disease is prevalent in oman,united arab emirates and iran. to restrict the spread ofthe infected trees, detection of the causative bacteriumis crucial. besides pcr-based methods, antibodies can beapplied for detection of pathogen-infected cells.recently shahrya...

Brinjal little leaf (BLL) is a widespread disease of phytoplasma etiology in India that induces severe economic losses. Surveys were conducted in eight brinjal-growing states of India during July 2014 to September 2015 and eighteen BLL samples showing little leaf, phyllody and witches' broom symptoms were collected for phytoplasma identification. Presence of phytoplasmas was confirmed in all th...

In this paper the validation and implementation of a Real-time PCR protocol based on ribosomal protein genes has been carried out for sensitive and specific quantification of 'Candidatus (Ca.) Phytoplasma mali' (apple proliferation phytoplasma, APP) in insects. The method combines the use of EvaGreen(®) dye as chemistry detection system and the specific primer pair rpAP15f-mod/rpAP15r3, which a...

The discovery in 1967, of a new group of plant pathogens related to bacteria led to the finding of pleomorphic, wall-less prokaryotes in the phloem of many plant species affected by yellows-type diseases. Following the application of molecular technologies the phylogeny of these prokaryotes was resolved and led to the new trivial name of “phytoplasma” and to the designation of a new taxon named...