First report of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’-related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma on Trachycarpus fortunei

Abstract

Chinese windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) exhibiting canopy decline symptoms suspected of being associated with a phytoplasma were observed in a residential landscape in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Internal stem tissue from diseased palms was tested for the presence of date palm lethal decline and lethal yellowing-related phytoplasmas. A ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmae’-related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma was detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and confirmed by sequencing. The subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasmas have previously been reported on buccaneer palm, cabbage palm, Canary Island date palm, edible date palm, green thatch palm, pigmy date palm, queen palm, Rio Grande palmetto, and silver date palm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a ‘Ca. P. palmae’ -related subgroup 16SrIV-D phytoplasma on T. fortunei.