Detection and characterization of phytoplasmas infecting five plant species in Egypt

Abstract

Samples of orange, hibiscus, peach, olive and pepper plants showing symptoms of dwarf branches with shortened internodes, leaf deformation and chlorosis, proliferation of axillary buds, yellowing, twisting and streaks together with samples from asymptomatic plants of the same age were collected from El-Behira and Alexandria Governorates, Egypt during 2015–2016. The samples were tested to verify phytoplasma presence by nested PCR assays using the ribosomal gene amplifying primers R16F2n/R2 on the P1/P7 1: 30 diluted amplicons as template. Amplification bands were obtained only from samples collected from symptomatic plants, and the RFLP analyses with informative restriction enzymes indicated that detected phytoplasmas belonged to 16SrII-D subgroup. These phytoplasmas are reported for the first time to infect olive trees, and for the first time in Egypt in peach, orange and hibiscus plants.