Detection and characterization of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’-related strain associated with Elaeagnus angustifolia proliferation in Iran

Abstract

Oleaster trees exhibiting proliferation symptoms, were observed in gardens of Qazvin, East Azerbaijan and Isfahan provinces, Iran. Since the symptoms were suggestive of phytoplasma presence, samples were tested by PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences using phytoplasma universal primers P1/P7 in direct PCR, and R16F2n/R16R2 in nested PCR assays. This resulted in the amplification of a DNA fragment of the expected size (1, 250 bp) in all the symptomatic plants. The nested PCR products were sequenced and BLAST analysis comparison showed the highest identity (99%) with phytoplasma strains enclosed in the 16SrII group, phylogenetic analysis confirmed that oleaster proliferation phytoplasma is a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’-related strain. This is the first report of a 16SrII group phytoplasma in oleaster in Iran.