Abstract
Phytoplasmas of the 16SrIII group are wide spread, and have a broad plant host range. Among these, ‘Candidatus phytoplasma pruni’ (‘Ca. P. pruni’; phytoplasmas of 16SrIII subgroup A) can cause serious diseases in Prunus species and ‘Ca. P. pruni’-related strains can infect other plant species, including grapevines. In this study, a new real-time PCR detection system was developed for ‘Ca. P. pruni’ using TaqMan chemistry. This test was designed to detect ‘Ca. P. pruni’, by amplifying the species-specific secY gene. In addition, a test to amplify the group-specific 16S rRNA gene region was also developed. The performances of both tests were evaluated. The test that amplifies the secY gene provided reliable and quick detection of ‘Ca. P. pruni’. Using the newly developed and validated test, ‘Ca. P. pruni’ was not found in any of the 434 field samples collected from different plants species grown in different regions of Slovenia.
Highlights
Phytoplasmas are wall-less plant pathogenic bacteria that survive and multiply in the plant phloem and insect haemolymph
The most studied 16SrIII subgroup is 16SrIII-A. This subgroup includes ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’ (‘Ca. P. pruni’), which is associated with X-disease of stone fruit (Prunus species) [6,7,8]
Real-time PCR tests were designed for the specific detection of ‘Ca. P. pruni’ and for the detection of other phytoplasmas from the 16SrIII group
Summary
Phytoplasmas are wall-less plant pathogenic bacteria (class Mollicutes) that survive and multiply in the plant phloem and insect haemolymph. The most studied 16SrIII subgroup is 16SrIII-A This subgroup includes ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’ (‘Ca. P. pruni’), which is associated with X-disease of stone fruit (Prunus species) [6,7,8]. The aim of the present study was to design a real-time PCR test based on TaqMan chemistry for the detection of ‘Ca. P. pruni’ in different hosts, which would be fast, easy, and reliable when screening high number of field samples. This test was validated and used to screen different field samples from different parts of Slovenia
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