Molecular identification,characterization and transmission of phytoplasmas associated with sesame phyllody in Turkey

Phyllody is a destructive disease of sesame in Turkey. The disease has been causing significant economic losses by stunting the plants and altering their floral parts into leafy structures with no capsule and hence no seeds in sesame fields of the country. This research was undertaken to examine symptomatology, etiology, taxonomy and transmission of two recently discovered phyllody phytoplasmas infecting sesame in Turkey. Direct and nested PCR amplifications of 16S rRNA gene with the phytoplasma-specific universal primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R2, respectively were employed for identification of the phytoplasmas associated with sesame phyllody. Phytoplasma-specific PCR amplicons of 1.8 kb and 1.2 kb were amplified only from symptomatic sesame plants and insect vector samples. Sequencing of the PCR amplicons and computer simulated restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis allowed classification of the phytoplasmas with pigeon pea witches’-broom (16SrIX-C) and peanut witches’-broom (16SrII-D) groups. The sequence homology and phylogenetic analyses further confirmed this classification. Among the insects collected from the sesame fields, the leafhopper Orosius orientalis Matsumara (Syn: O. albicinctus Distant) was the only vector proven to transmit the sesame phyllody phytoplasmas from diseased to healthy sesame plants in transmission assays. The results demonstrated that the 16SrIX-C and 16SrII-D group phytoplasmas were the agent of sesame phyllody and O. orientalis was the vector insect of the disease in Turkey.     

Natural occurrence, identification and transmission of the phytoplasma associated with flax phyllody and stem fasciation in Pakistan

Flax plants (Linum usitatissimum) of the white (album) flower variety exhibiting typical phytoplasma-like symptoms were found for the first time in Pakistan during 2011. The symptoms included floral virescence, phyllody, little leaf, stunting and stem fasciation. Light microscopy of hand-cut stem sections treated with Dienes’ stain showed blue areas in the phloem region of symptomatic plants. To confirm phytoplasma infection, total DNA was extracted separately from five plants showing virescence/phyllody and from five others showing fasciation, and was amplified by nested PCR using universal 16S rDNA phytoplasma primers P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2. All samples from plants with virescence/phyllody and fasciation yielded a 1,250 bp PCR product, and identical RFLP profiles using the enzymes AluI and HpaII. Direct sequencing of the 16S rDNA of one representative PCR amplicon (GenBank Accession No. JX567504 for phyllody and Accession No. JX567505 for fasciation) showed highest sequence identity (99%) with 16SrII ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ phytoplasmas, and phylogenetic analysis placed the phytoplasma in subgroup 16SrII-D. Disease was successfully transmitted by grafting and by the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus. To our knowledge, flax is a new natural host for 16SrII-D phytoplasmas in Pakistan.     

First report of a 16SrIII-B subgroup phytoplasma associated with leaf reddening, virescence and phyllody of purple coneflower

Purple coneflower plants showing leaf reddening and flower abnormalities were observed in South Bohemia (Czech Republic). Transmission electron microscopy observations showed phytoplasmas in sieve cells of symptomatic plants but not in healthy ones. Polymerase chain reactions with universal and group specific phytoplasma primers followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of 16S rDNA allowed us to classify the detected phytoplasmas into the X-disease group, ribosomal subgroup 16SrIII-B. Sequence analyses of the 16S-23S ribosomal operon (1684 bp), ribosomal protein L15, and protein translocase genes (1566 bp) confirmed the closest relationship with phytoplasmas belonging to the 16SrIII ribosomal group, specifically the 16SrIII-B subgroup. The current study reports purple coneflower as a new host for the X-disease phytoplasma group in the Czech Republic and worldwide.     

Molecular and biologic characterization of a phytoplasma associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica campestris</Emphasis> phyllody disease in Punjab province,Pakistan

A phytoplasma-associated disease was identified in Brassica campestris (sarson) plants during a survey conducted in Punjab province of Pakistan in 2014–2016. The symptomatic plants showed characteristic symptoms of phyllody and witches’ broom. Phytoplasma presence was detected by polymerase chain reaction on 16S ribosomal and tuf DNAs, followed by RFLP analysis and sequence comparison of the 16S rRNA and tuf genes. The phytoplasma detected was classified in a new ribosomal subgroup designed 16SrIX-H. The phytoplasma presence in phloem tissues of symptomatic sarson samples was also confirmed through light microscopy and transmission studies to healthy plants through dodder and the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus. This is the first report of identification of 16SrIX-H subgroup phytoplasma associated with sarson and its natural vector in Pakistan.     

Phytoplasmas infecting sour cherry and lilac represent two distinct lineages having close evolutionary affinities with clover phyllody phytoplasma

Phytoplasmas infecting sour cherry and lilac in Lithuania were found to represent two lineages related to clover phyllody phytoplasma (CPh), a subgroup 16SrI-(R/S)C (formerly 16SrI-C) strain exhibiting rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity. 16S rDNAs amplified from the cherry bunchy leaf (ChBL) and lilac little leaf (LcLL) phytoplasmas were identical or nearly identical to those of operon rrnA and operon rrnB, respectively, of CPh. There was no evidence of 16S rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity in either LcLL or ChBL phytoplasma. Based on collective RFLP patterns of 16S rDNA, ChBL was classified in subgroup 16SrI-R, and LcLL was classified in new subgroup 16SrI-S. The ribosomal protein (rp) gene sequences from LcLL phytoplasma were identical to those of CPh, and strain LcLL was classified in rp subgroup rpI-C. By contrast, rp gene sequences from ChBL phytoplasma differed from those of subgroup rpI-C; based on RFLP patterns of rp gene sequences, ChBL was classified in new rp subgroup rpI-O. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), designated here by a new SNP convention, marked members of rp subgroup rpI-C, and distinguished LcLL and CPh from ChBL and other non-rpI-C phytoplasmas in group 16SrI. The results raise questions concerning phytoplasma biodiversity assessment based on rRNA genes alone and encourage the supplemental use of a single copy gene in phytoplasma identification and classification, while drawing attention to a possible role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolutionary history of these lineages.     

Phylogenetic analysis of elongation factor Tu gene of phytoplasmas from Japan

The elongation factor Tu (tuf) gene from nine Japan phytoplasma isolates was amplified with the polymerase chain reaction, and the DNA sequences of the tuf gene were determined. The tuf gene from 14 phytoplasma isolates, including reference isolates and other bacteria, were phylogenetically analyzed. A nucleotide sequence of the tuf gene among seven aster yellows group (16Sr I-B and I-D) phytoplasmas had 97%–100% similarity, and the tuf gene of two phytoplasmas of the X-disease group (16Sr III-B) had 99% similarity. The tuf genes had lower homology than did the 16S rRNA gene in the phytoplasma groups. A phylogenetic tree of amino acid sequences of the tuf gene was nearly equal to that of the 16S rRNA gene but differed somewhat from the tree based on the 16S rRNA gene in that paulownia witches broom (PaW: 16Sr I-D) and American aster yellows (AAY: 16Sr I-B) were in a subclade.The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under the accession numbers AB095495, AB095667, AB095668, AB095669, AB095670, AB095671, AB095672, AB095673 and AB095674     

New Group 16SrIII Phytoplasma Lineages in Lithuania Exhibit rRNA Interoperon Sequence Heterogeneity

Previously undescribed phytoplasmas were detected in diseased plants of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) exhibiting virescence of flowers, thistle (Cirsium arvense) exhibiting symptoms of white leaf, and a Gaillardia sp. exhibiting symptoms of stunting and phyllody in Lithuania. On the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA amplified in PCR, the dandelion virescence (DanVir), cirsium whiteleaf (CirWL), and gaillardia phyllody (GaiPh) phytoplasmas were classified in phylogenetic group 16SrIII (X-disease phytoplasma group), new subgroups III-P and III-R and subgroup III-B, respectively. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analyses revealed 16S rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity in the two rRNA operons, rrnA and rrnB, of both DanVir and CirWL. Results from phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences of 16S rDNA were consistent with recognition of the two new subgroups as representatives of distinct new lineages within the group 16SrIII phytoplasma subclade. The branching order of rrnA and rrnB sequences in the phylogenetic tree supported this interpretation and indicated recent common ancestry of the two rRNA operons in each of the phytoplasmas exhibiting interoperon heterogeneity.     

Electron microscopy and molecular identification of phytoplasmas associated with strawberry green petals in the Czech Republic

The presence of phytoplasma inFragaria ananassa x Duch cv Senga Sengana showing strawberry green petals symptoms was observed by electron microscopy of phloem tissue. No phytoplasmas were found in asymptomatic strawberry plants used as controls. Nucleic acids extracted from these plants were used in nested-PCR assays with primers amplifying 16S rRNA sequences specifie for phytoplasmas. Bands of 1.2 kb were obtained and the subsequent nested-PCR with specific primers and RFLP analyses allowed to classify the detected phytoplasmas in the aster yellows group (16SrI). They belonged to the subgroup I-C of which type strain is clover phyllody phytoplasma.     

Molecular characterization of a phytoplasma causing Phyllody in Clover and other herbaceous hosts in Northern Italy

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Ladino clover (Trifolium repens) plants showing phytoplasma-associated symptoms (yellowing/reddening, virescence and phyllody) have been recovered in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. Using AluI RFLP analysis of PCR amplified 16S rDNA we showed that the disease can be caused independently by two phylogenetically distinct phytoplasmas. One of them showed the very typical 16S rDNA RFLP pattern of the agent of Clover Phyllody in Canada (CCPh). The 16S rDNA of the other phytoplasma (Italian Clover Phyllody phytoplasma, ICPhp) has been PCR amplified, cloned and sequenced. The sequence revealed high similarity (>98%) with phytoplasmas belonging to the X disease cluster, which includes organisms not reported to cause phyllody on their hosts. The analysis by AluI RFLP of the PCR amplified pathogen 16S rDNA from other herbaceous plants (Crepis biennis, Taraxacum officinale, Leucanthemum vulgare) collected nearby with phytoplasma-associated symptoms showed similar patterns. Southern blot hybridization of their EcoRI digested total DNA revealed identical RFLP patterns, suggesting that the causative agent may be the same organism.Abbreviations PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction - rDNA gene for the small subunit ribosomal RNA - RFLP Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism     

First report of little leaf disease associated with phytoplasma on sugar beet (Betavulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris var. altissima Doll) in India

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris var. altissima) is a biennial, sugar-producing tuber crop grown in different parts of the world. Diseased sugar beets with symptoms of little leaf were observed during 2008 in Tamil Nadu, India. Phytoplasmas were detected in symptomatic leaves of three separate plants using PCR with primer pair fU5/rU3, which amplify an 880-bp fragment of the 16S rRNA region of phytoplasmas. The nucleotide sequence analysis of a 766-bp fragment had 100% identity among the sequence from the three plants (GQ184437) and 96% nucleotide sequence identity with 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences of eggplant phyllody phytoplasma.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Berberis</Emphasis> phyllody is a phytoplasma-associated disease

Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea, also known as Red barberry, is a small ornamental shrub in the family Berberidaceae. In recent years, a phyllody symptom has been observed frequently, spreading in the shrubs in northwestern China. A phytoplasma 16S rDNA specific fragment was amplified by PCR from Berberis plants with the phyllody symptoms. DNA sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed the phytoplasma belongs to 16SrV-B subgroup. This is the first report that Berbegis thunbergii atropurpurea is a host for 16SrV-B phytoplasma. The disease was named Berberis phyllody.     

Molecular characterization and phylogeny of phytoplasma associated with bunchy top disease in its new host Okra (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abelmoschus esculentus</Emphasis>) in India reveal a novel lineage within the 16SrI group

Okra plants with bunchy top disease were found to be prevalent during the period of August–October 2009 in New Delhi, India. The common symptoms observed were shortening of internodes, aggregation of leaves at the apical region, reduced leaf lamina, stem reddening, fruit bending, phyllody and stunting of plants. The disease incidence ranged from 2–60% accompanied by significant reductions in production of both flowers and seeds. Nested polymerase chain reaction targeting phytoplasma specific 16S rDNA and rp genes revealed all symptomatic plants to be positive for phytoplasma. Homology searches depicted its closest identity to phytoplasmas of 16SrI ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, like the Sugarcane yellows and Periwinkle phyllody phytoplasmas. Profiles for 16S rDNA obtained with 10 restriction endonucleases, differed in TaqI sites for two phytoplasma isolates (BHND5 & 10) from the standard pattern of 16SrI-B subgroup, the latter was seen in the case of isolate BHND1. Restriction fragment analysis of rp genes with AluI, Tsp509I matched with patterns of the rpI-B phytoplasmas. Phylogenetic reconstruction of rp genes revealed okra bunchy top phytoplasma (BHND1) as a divergent isolate, the subsequent sequence analysis of which showed the presence of a novel BslI site. These significant differences suggest that multiple phytoplasma strains are affecting okra, one of which is a diverging lineage within the 16SrI-B group while others represent a new 16SrI subgroup not reported so far. Additionally, this is the first report of a phytoplasma associated disease in okra plants worldwide.     

云南芒果变叶病植原体的分子鉴定

 植原体（phytoplasma）是一类没有细胞壁,不能离体培养的原核生物,对四环素敏感,主要存在于植物筛管细胞中。植原体主要通过叶蝉、飞虱等取食植物韧皮部的昆虫传播,也可通过菟丝子寄生和嫁接等方式传播。目前,全世界已发现1 000多种由植原体引起的植物病害,我国大陆已报道100余种与之相关的病害\[1\]。由植原体引起的病害症状主要表现为植株花器病态、小叶、丛枝、黄化等,从而导致植物产量和品质明显下降。     

First report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ infecting hydrangea showing phyllody in Japan

Phytoplasma-induced floral malformations such as virescence, phyllody, and proliferation were observed on hydrangeas in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, secY, groEL, and amp gene sequences indicated that the affected hydrangea plants were associated with phytoplasmas belonging to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, but not to ‘Ca. P. japonicum’, which occurs in hydrangeas showing phyllody in Japan. This is the first molecular evidence of an association of ‘Ca. P. asteris’ with hydrangea plants in Japan.     

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].     

Partial characterization of phytoplasmas associated with lettuce and wild lettuce phyllodies in Iran

Phytoplasmas associated with lettuce phyllody (LP) and wild lettuce phyllody (WLP) in southern Iran were partially characterized by molecular analyses and host-range studies. Agents of both diseases were transmitted by Neoaliturus fenestratus , a leafhopper colonizing lettuce and wild lettuce, to lettuce, wild lettuce, sowthistle and periwinkle, but not to safflower, sunflower, calendula and sesame. Both phytoplasmas induced bud proliferation, virescence, phyllody and witches' broom in infected plants. Total DNA extracted from infected lettuce and wild lettuce or from vector tissues was subjected to PCR using phytoplasma-specific primer pair P1/P7 or nested PCR using P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2. PCR product of nested PCR (1·2 kbp) was subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). RFLP analysis of nested PCR product identified the LP, WLP and N. fenestratus -associated phytoplasmas as members of the pigeon pea witches' broom group, 16SrIX. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence also clustered LP and WLP phytoplasmas with other known members of the 16SrIX group. While no significant differences could be detected between LP and WLP phytoplasmas, both isolates differed from Lebanese wild lettuce phyllody in molecular properties.     

Molecular analysis of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ associated with phytoplasma diseases in Myanmar

During 2010 and 2011, typical phytoplasma disease symptoms such as little leaves, phyllody and witches’ brooms were observed on black gram, green gram, long bean, shaggy button weed and sesame plants from different regions of Myanmar. The symptomatic samples were analyzed by PCR using universal phytoplasma primers and characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA, ribosomal protein and translocase protein genes. Based on sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the three genes, the phytoplasmas associated with those plants belonged to members of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’. To our knowledge, black gram and shaggy button are new hosts for ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’.     

棣棠丛枝病相关植原体的分子鉴定

 植原体（Candidatus Phytoplasma）是一种没有细胞壁的原核微生物,主要由取食韧皮部的昆虫（叶蝉、飞虱等）传播, 也可由菟丝子寄生和嫁接等途径传播,常常引起植株黄化、丛枝、花器变态、萎缩等症状。迄今为止,世界上报道的植物植原体病害有1 000余种,仅我国就有100多种,造成巨大损失。     

Electron Microscopy and Molecular Characterization of Phytoplasmas Associated with Strawflower Yellows in the Czech Republic

Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum) with symptoms resembling those associated to phytoplasma infection were observed in several areas in the Czech Republic during the period 1994–2001. Plants with leaf bronzing, reddening and necrosis, proliferation of secondary shoots, flower abnormalities and dwarfing died in advanced stages of the disease. The disease incidence ranged from 2% to 70% and caused significant loss to the flower and seed production. Transmission electron microscopy showed phytoplasmas in sieve cells of affected plants, but not in healthy ones. Association of phytoplasmas with the disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using phytoplasma universal ribosomal primers R16F2n/R16R2. An amplification product of the expected size (1.2 kb) was observed in all samples of the symptomatic strawflowers. The restriction profiles obtained following separate digestion with three endonucleases (AluI, HhaI, MseI) showed that phytoplasmas infecting strawflowers from different localities in the Czech Republic were uniform and undistinguishable from aster yellows (subgroup 16SrI-B). Sequence analysis of 1771 bp of the ribosomal operon amplified with primers P1/U3, R16F2n/R2 and 16R758/P7 indicated that the closest related phytoplasmas were those associated with 'Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurea', both originating from Bohemia. This is the first report on the occurrence of a phytoplasma-associated disease of strawflower in the Czech Republic.     

Genetic and serological analyses of elongation factor EF‐Tu of paulownia witches’‐broom phytoplasma (16SrI‐D)

This study determined the tuf gene sequence of the phytoplasma specific to paulownia witches’‐broom from Nanyang, China (hereby designated PaWB‐Ny). The PaWB‐Ny tuf gene was 1185 nucleotides in length and confirmed that the phytoplasma belongs to subgroup 16SrI‐D of aster yellows. Three characteristic GTP‐binding protein motifs were identified based on the peptide deduced from the tuf gene sequence. Results suggested that the elongation factor EF‐Tu was localized in the cytoplasm and lacked hydrophobic transmembrane domains. Antibodies against PaWB‐Ny EF‐Tu were prepared by rabbit immunization with glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST)‐tagged EF‐Tu fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli. EF‐Tu exhibited a molecular weight of ～43 kDa and was detected in PaWB‐infected paulownia plants by western blot analysis. Indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and dot blotting analyses were performed with freezing and thawing treatments during antigen preparation. Dilution of extracts to an appropriate scale significantly reduced non‐specific reactions. The resultant PaWB EF‐Tu antibody reacted with antigens from plants infected with periwinkle virescence and chinaberry tree witches’‐broom phytoplasmas, but not those infected with jujube witches’‐broom or bishopwood witches’‐broom phytoplasma. The EF‐Tu was characteristically localized within the phytoplasmal cytoplasm of infected plant phloem tissues.