Detection and molecular characterization of phytoplasma associated with chickpea phyllody disease in south India

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plants showing typical symptoms of infection by a phytoplasma that causes phyllody disease have been commonly observed in recent years in parts of south India. The symptoms included pale green leaves, bushy appearance due to excessive stunting of shoots, reduced internodal length and excessive axillary proliferation. The causal agent of the phyllody disease was identified based on symptoms, amplification of 16S rDNA of the phytoplasma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from infected samples, as well as by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. First round PCR and nested-PCR protocols were standardized for improved efficiency and reliability of the diagnostic protocols. Using the primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2, 1,800?bp and 1,200?bp size products were amplified in first round PCR and nested-PCR protocols, respectively. The PCR product was cloned and sequenced and compared with the reference phytoplasma sequences from the database (NCBI). The Indian chickpea phyllody phytoplasma 16S rDNA sequences shared the highest nucleotide identity (>98%) with the 16S rII group phytoplasma candidates, also infecting chickpea from Australia and Pakistan. This is the first report of a phytoplasma of the 16SrII-group infecting chickpea from India. The genetic similarities and the potential threat of this new disease to chickpea cultivation in India are discussed.     

Identification and molecular characterization of a phytoplasma associated with sunflower in Argentina

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants showing capitulum with virescence, phyllody and flower malformation, shortened internodes and abnormal branches were found in a field in Pedro Luro (Buenos Aires province, Argentina). Pleomorphic bodies resembling phytoplasmas were observed in sieve tube elements of symptomatic plants but not in healthy ones. DNA from all symptomatic sunflower plants analysed yielded, in direct PCR with phytoplasma universal primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R2, fragments of expected size 1.8 kb and 1.2 kb, respectively. The phytoplasma associated with the disease, was named Sunflower Phyllody (SunPhy). Real and putative RFLP of the 16S rDNA showed the affiliation of SunPhy to 16SrIII (X-disease group), subgroup J. The 16S rDNA sequence from SunPhy showed the highest identity (99 %) with 16SrIII members and the phylogenetic tree confirmed a closer relationship to subgroup J of the 16SIII ribosomal group. This is the first report of a phytoplasma related to the 16SrIII group affecting sunflower.     

Characterization and distribution of phytoplasma strains associated with temperate stone fruits and their possible natural reservoirs in the north-western Himalayan states of India

European Journal of Plant Pathology - To understand the key soil factors that affect the survival and reproduction of Phytophthora sojae in soil, the number of zoospores and oospores of P. sojae...     

Identification of genes associated with phytoplasma resistance through suppressive subtraction hybridization in Chinese jujube

Jujube witches' broom (JWB) is a destructive disease for Chinese jujube caused by phytoplasma. A suppression subtractive hybridization library of resistant cultivar ‘Xingguang’ was constructed under phytoplasma stress to identify genes related to JWB resistance. 77 of 200 unique expressed sequence tags had significant sequence homologies and were classified into 10 functional groups. The most abundant group was disease/defense (20.8%), which was consistent with the phytoplasma stress. These differentially expressed genes provide the groundwork for addressing the plant–phytoplasma interaction. Meanwhile, the expression of five selected genes (TLP, PR10, HSP70, ERF, kinase-related protein) was confirmed to upregulate at different infection periods.     

Identification and characterization of two phytoplasma subgroups (16SrXI-D and 16SrXIV-A) associated with lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn) in India

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Leaf rolling, necrosis and apical bud proliferation symptoms were recorded on lychee plants at Bhatpar Rani (Deoria district) and Gorakhpur (Gorakhpur...     

Differentially regulated genes in Solanum tuberosum in response to “Mexican potato purple top phytoplasma” infection

Potato plants infected by phytoplasmas exhibit an array of symptoms that suggest interference within the normal balance of plant metabolism. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), macroarray screening and real-time PCR were performed to identify differentially expressed genes in phytoplasma-infected in vitro potato plants. Gene expression analysis revealed the up-regulation of genes involved in several metabolic pathways, including ERF, WRKY, HSP90, SAP6, AN1-like ZFP, and an unknown protein; the down-regulation of genes encoding monodehydroascorbate reductase and a putative membrane protein was also observed. The results presented here provide the groundwork for addressing new questions to better understand the phytoplasma–plant interaction.     

桃红叶植原体检测及鉴定

对表现红叶的桃植株进行植原体16SrRNA基因PCR扩增,得到1.2kb的特异片段.将此片段与pGEM T Easy载体连接并转化到大肠杆茵DH5α感受态细胞中.通过酶切、PCR鉴定,对筛选得到的重组阳性克隆进行序列测定及同源性比较分析,确定该株系属于翠菊黄化植原体组(Aster yellows group,16SrI).在国内首次报道了翠菊黄化组中的植原体侵染桃树.     

泡桐丛枝植原体Sec分泌蛋白转运系统3个亚基基因的克隆及蛋白特性分析

采用PCR方法扩增Sec分泌蛋白转运系统3个亚基基因,并进行了生物信息学分析。通过SWISS MODEL同源建模与3D PSSM折叠子识别法构建蛋白质的三维结构,并通过PROCHECK程序验证构建的三维结构的可靠性。首次从泡桐丛枝(PaWB)植原体基因组中分离出Sec分泌蛋白转运系统3个亚基基因,各基因全长依次为2 508、1 242 bp和411 bp,分别编码835、204个及136个氨基酸的蛋白。SecA、SecY和SecE均为脂溶性稳定蛋白,SecA无明显跨膜区,SecY和SecE分别含有10个和3个明显的疏水跨膜区。二级结构主要为螺旋,其次为折叠和无规则卷曲,没有转角。构建的三维结构符合立体化学原则。泡桐丛枝(PaWB)植原体中存在的Sec分泌蛋白转运系统作为最主要的运输途径,可能直接转运菌体蛋白如毒素等直接到寄主细胞质中或介体昆虫细胞中,引起寄主病症。研究植原体的Sec蛋白转运系统对于了解植原体的致病机理及预防这类病害的发生提供了理论依据。     

Multilocus identification and thiophanate-methyl sensitivity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex associated with fruit with symptoms and symptomless leaves of mango

Colletotrichum spp. are known causal agents of anthracnose in a broad host range, causing severe losses. Currently, the most effective way to reduce disease is by fungicide application, which could give rise to resistant populations. This study aimed to determine the Colletotrichum species present in conventional and organic mango orchards and to evaluate their pathogenicity and sensitivity to the benzimidazole fungicide thiophanate-methyl. Seventy-one isolates from fruit with symptoms and symptomless leaves were obtained. From these, 20 representative morphotypes were analysed based on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase partial gene sequencing. A subset of 10 isolates based on different species, isolation source, and fungicide sensitivity was used for morphological and multilocus phylogenetic analysis. Colletotrichum queenslandicum was only identified in conventional production systems, C. chrysophilum only in organic systems, and C. asianum and C. siamense in both. Pathogenicity tests showed all species were pathogenic, and only C. asianum caused symptoms via both unwounded and wounded inoculation methods. Overall, 25.3% of isolates (n = 18) that belong to C. siamense, isolated from a conventional orchard, grew on thiophanate-methyl amended media at 1,000 µg/ml, suggesting high resistance. Resistance was not correlated with any common point mutations at positions 198 and 200 of the β-tubulin 2 protein, as commonly found in other fungal pathogens resistant to benzimidazole. The 74.7% remaining isolates (n = 53) belonging to the other species were sensitive, reaching 100% inhibition at <10 µg/ml. Even with benzimidazole application, anthracnose symptoms persist due to the emergence of pathogenic Colletotrichum subpopulations that are resistant to thiophanate-methyl.     

竹小叶病植原体的分子鉴定

 2008年在杨凌采集到具有典型植原体侵染症状的菲白竹,应用植原体16S rRNA基因的通用引物对R16mF2／R16mR1和R16F2n／R16R2对其进行检测,巢式PCR得到约1.2 kb的特异性片段。对扩增片段进行测序并进行系统进化树分析,结果表明,该病原属于翠菊黄化组(Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris),与该组成员同源性均在98%以上。随后用16Sr Ⅰ组和Ⅴ组特异引物对R16（Ⅰ）F1／R16（Ⅰ）R1和R16（Ⅴ）F1／R16（Ⅴ）R1也证明其属于翠菊黄化组,RFLP 分析表明该植原体属于16SrⅠ-B亚组。植原体侵染菲白竹在中国属首次报道。     

Molecular characterization of the phytoplasmas associated with toon trees and periwinkle in India

In November 2008 in Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh regions in India, toon trees and periwinkles were observed to have formed short internodes, small leaves and witches’-broom symptoms, typical of phytoplasma infection. The symptomatic toon and periwinkle samples were tested with universal PCR tests, and the 16S rRNA, rplB-rpsC, secA and secY genes were sequenced. The causal agents belonged to subgroup 16SrI-B of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, based on 16S rDNA, ribosomal protein gene, secA and secY phylogenetic analysis.     

Detection and identification of the phytoplasma associated with pear decline in Taiwan

Pear decline (PD) is an important phytoplasmal disease that occurs mainly in Europe and North America. In 1994, pear trees exhibiting symptoms typical of PD disease were observed in orchards of central Taiwan. The sequence of 16S rDNA and 16S–23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) of the causative agent of pear decline in Taiwan (PDTW) were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a DNA template prepared from the diseased leaves. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA revealed that the PDTW agent was closely related to the phytoplasmas of the apple proliferation group that cause diseases in stone fruits, pear and apple. Consistent with the result of 16S rDNA sequence analysis, sequence analysis of the 16S–23S rDNA ISR and putative restriction site analyses of 16S rDNA and 16S–23S rDNA ISR sequences provided further support for the view that the PDTW phytoplasma causing pear decline in Taiwan may represent a new subgroup of the apple proliferation group. According to the rDNA sequence of PDTW phytoplasma, two specific PCR primer pairs, APf2/L1n and fPD1/rPDS1, were designed in this study for the detection of the etiological agent in pear trees and insect vectors. Based on the sequence analyses of the PCR-amplified fragments, two species of pear psyllas, Cacopsylla qianli and Cacopsylla chinensis, were found to carry PDTW phytoplasma.     

Molecular and morphological characterization of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from native Mexican Stylosanthes species

A total of 264 Stylosanthes spp. plants collected from 78 Stylosanthes spp. populations in seven southern Mexican states were analysed for the presence of Colletotrichum spp. Isolates were obtained from 64 plants collected from 36 Stylosanthes populations; 198 isolates produced straight conidia, while 72 isolates produced falcate conidia. Molecular identification was performed to confirm the identity of C. gloeosporioides for the straight-spored isolates. PCR amplifications using the primer CgInt, synthesized from an ITS1 fragment specific to C. gloeosporioides , and the universal primer ITS4 generated the target fragment for 120 Mexican isolates with straight conidia. The endonucleases Ava II and Sma I were used for restriction of the entire amplified ITS1 region of these 120 isolates. The tree constructed from the restriction data grouped 118 Mexican C. gloeosporioides isolates into three clusters containing reference isolates from Africa and Australia, and generated two additional clusters for two Mexican isolates. Conidial shape and growth rate on solid medium were used as the major morphological criteria for distinguishing types A and B. On the basis of 32 other morphological characteristics, a phenogram grouped the colonies into three main clusters. These clusters were partially related to the Stylosanthes species from which they were isolated, and to the molecular groups.     

三叶草绿变病植原体的分子鉴定

三叶草(Trifolium pratense Linn.)为车轴草属,蝶形花科多年生草本植物,原产亚洲南部和欧洲东南部,是一种世界性分布与栽培的优良牧草.因其花叶兼优、草姿美、绿期长而具有较高的观赏价值,近几年作为草坪用草被广泛种植.在自然条件下,三叶草很容易受到不同种植原体的侵染,国外已报道的侵染三叶草的植原体有:三叶草绿变植原体( Clover phyllody phytoplasma,CPh)和三叶草增殖植原体(Clover proliferation phytoplasma,CP)等,这些植原体分别属于16SrI组和16SrⅥ组[1,2].     

榆树黄化病植原体的分子检测与鉴定

 利用植原体16SrRNA基因的通用引物R16rrLF2/R16mR1和R16F2n/R16R2对山东泰山上发生的榆树(Ulmus parvifolia)黄化病感病植株总DNA进行巢式PCR扩增,得到了约1.2kb的特异性片段,从分子水平证实了榆树黄化病的病原(EY-China)为植原体。将扩增到的片段测序,并进行一致性和系统进化树分析。结果表明,该分离物属于植原体榆树黄化组(Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi),与该组成员16SrRNA序列的一致性均在98.2%以上,其中与16SrV-B亚组中的纸桑丛枝(Paper mulberry wiches'-broom)和枣疯病(Jujube witches'-broom)植原体一致性最高,达到99.4%,在系统进化树中与该亚组成员聚类到同一个分支,说明该分离物属于植原体16SrV-B亚组。本研究首次对在中国引致榆树黄化病的植原体进行了分子检测,并通过核酸序列分析将其鉴定到亚组水平。     

Detection and characterization of a phytoplasma associated with annual blue grass (Poa annua) white leaf disease in southern Italy

A phytoplasma was detected in annual blue grass (Poa annua L. Fienardo), exhibiting white leaf symptoms, that was grown in the fields near Caserta in southern Italy. Based on restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA sequences, the phytoplasma associated with annual blue grass white leaf disease was identified as a new member of phytoplasma 16S rRNA group XI (16SrXI) (type strain, rice yellow dwarf phytoplasma). The annual blue grass white leaf phytoplasma is most closely related to Bermuda grass white leaf phytoplasma found in Asia. Annul blue grass white leaf and Bermuda grass white leaf phytoplasmas were designated as the third subgroup (16SrXI-C) of group XI. This is the first report that a plant pathogenic phytoplasma belonging to group 16SrXI is present on the European continent.     

樱桃花变绿病植原体的分子鉴定

 植原体(phytoplasma)是一类没有细胞壁,不能人工培养,存在于植物筛管细胞中的类似植物病原细菌的原核生物。迄今为止,世界各地报道的1 000余种植物病害与植原体有关,引起的症状主要包括丛枝、黄化、花变绿、花变叶、花器退化等。     

Survey and characterization of potyviruses and their strains of Allium species

Nearly 5700 plants of 14 cultivated and 8 wildAllium species and varieties from the Netherlands and other parts of the world, were tested for infection with aphid-borne potyviruses by ELISA, electron microscope decoration tests and/or inoculation onto test plants. This resulted in the detection of two known viruses, viz. leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) and onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV), and the discovery and characterization of two new viruses, viz. shallot yellow stripe virus (SYSV) and Welsh onion yellow stripe virus (WoYSV), and of six strains of these viruses. ‘Garlic mosaic’, ‘barlic yellow streak’, ‘onion mosaic’, ‘shallot mosaic’, ‘shallot X’, and ‘shallot yellows’ viruses, incompletely described in the literature, are now reidentified as well-known viruses or as strains or mixtures of such viruses. ‘Garlic yellow stripe virus’ is also a complex containing a potyvirus possibly differing from the viruses found in this survey. The symptoms of the potyviruses studied varied widely and ranged from mild to severe chlorotic to yellow striping of leaves, and they are of little diagnostic importance.LYSV was found in vegetatively propagated pearl onion (A. ampeloprasum var.sectivum) from Europe and Asia. It has decreased in leek crops (A. ampeloprasum var.porrum) in the Netherlands since the 1970, apparently due to resistance in new cultivars. OYDV was common in onion (A. cepa var.cepa) from the former USSR and North Africa, and in European cultivars of shallot (A. cepa var.ascalonicum), with the exception of the highly resistant ‘Santé’, but was not detected during this survey in Asian shallot. European samples of ever-ready onion (A. cepa var.perutile), multiplier onion (A. cepa var.aggregatum) and tree onion (A. cepa var.viviparum) contained OYDV. It was also found in sand leek (A. scorodoprasum) from european gene collections. A strain of OYDV from onion and shallot in Morocco and Spain was virulent on onion and shallot cultivars resistant to common OYDV, as reported early for a similar isolate in the USA.Asian shallot appeared generally infected with the new SYSV, similar to OYDV in host range and symptoms but serologically distinct. It was not detected in onion and shallot from Europe or North Africa. A virulent strain of this virus caused striping in sap-inoculated garlic (A. sativum) and Formosan lily (Lilium formosanum). The new WoYSV, infecting Welsh onion in Indonesia and Japan, was earlier described in Japan as OYDV from rakkyo and Welsh onion. It appeared serologically closely related to SYSV and distantly to OYDV, but differed in its host range.Host-specific strains of LYSV and OYDV were detected in garlic, wild garlic (A. longicuspis), an unidentifiedAllium species (suffix-G), and great-headed garlic (A. ampeloprasum var.holmense) (suffix-GhG)., LYSV-G and OYDV-G infected on average 45% and 73%, respectively, of the garlic samples of worldwide origin. Symptoms of isolates of both strains varied in severity, implying the necessity of serological tests for disease diagnosis and health certification. LYSV-GhG was the cause of yellow striping in 93% of the great-headed garlic plants tested, mainly from the Mediterranean area. One sample was also infected with OYDV-GhG.Many samples from vegetatively propagated crops grown from non-certified planting stock contained a few plants free of potyviruses, implying the possibility to obtain healthy (and possibly resistant) selections of such cultivars avoiding meristem-tip culture. Cross-protection of garlic sets by a mild potyvirus isolate seems to be an alternative to the use of vulnerable virus-free sets.Generally, viruses and virus strains could not be transmitted to anyAllium species other than their natural host, except to the highly susceptible crow garlic (A. vineale). This species, and other predominantly vegetatively propagating wildAllium spp. (field garlic,A. oleraceum; ramsons,A. ursinum; sand leek), were found not to be reservoirs of viruses that might infectAllium crops in the netherlands. Streaking in vegetatively propagated wild leeks (A. ampeloprasum and closely related species) originating from the Mediterranean area and Asia was due to an undescribed miteborne virus. The survey confirmed that spread of potyviruses inAllium crops in the Netherlands is from planting sets, and from a neighbouring crop only if of the same species.