Abstract
Chlorotic little leaves, witches’ broom and shortened stolons/rhizomes on Cynodon dactylon was observed in and around sugarcane fields at Sugarcane Research Institute, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India during August–September 2013. The association of phytoplasmas with symptomatic C. dactylon was confirmed by direct and nested PCR amplification of phytoplasma 16Sr gene. Out of the different prevalent species of leafhoppers on Bermuda grass, only Exitianus indicus tested positive for phytoplasma presence. Phylogenetic analysis of 16Sr gene sequence suggested that the identified phytoplasmas from C. dactylon and E. indicus in the present study were 99% similar and belonged to 16SrXIV group. The study suggests that, E. indicus may be a putative vector for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis’ and may play a role in transmitting 16SrXIV group phytoplasmas in nature.
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