16SrII phytoplasma associated with date palm and Mexican fan palm in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Date palm and Mexican fan palm trees showing symptoms previously associated with phytoplasmas were observed in the Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia in 2017. DNA amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’- related strain in eighteen of the eighty-three symptomatic plants collected that were positive using 16S-based assays. This study confirmed the presence of phytoplasma affecting date palms in Saudi Arabia and it is the first report of several date palm cultivars associated with ‘Ca. P. australasia’-related strains. This is also the first report worldwide of Mexican fan palm trees affected by 16SrII phytoplasma strains and the first report of this plant host affected by phytoplasmas in Saudi Arabia. The implications of these findings are vital to implement management strategies and avoid economic losses in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, which are the main producers of dates in the world.