Abstract
Pumpkin plants showing symptoms of witches’ broom (PuWB) were observed in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, China, in September 2018. A phytoplasma was detected in symptomatic plants by PCR amplifying portions of the 16S ribosomal and tuf genes. In addition, the phylogeny based on these genes sequencing indicated that the PuWB strain clusters with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (subgroup 16SrXII-A). Furthermore, based on in silico and in vitro restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses, the PuWB phytoplasma was confirmed as a ‘Ca. P. solani’-related strain. This was the first record of the occurrence of phytoplasma presence in pumpkins in China, and the first record of 16SrXII phytoplasma infecting pumpkins in the world.
Highlights
Phytoplasmas are prokaryotic plant pathogens first discovered in 1967 (Doi et al, 1967)
Based on similarities in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of 16S rRNA genes, phytoplasmas are classified into 16Sr groups and subgroups
The present study reports pumpkin disease with witches’ broom as the main symptom, which occurred in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region of China
Summary
Phytoplasmas are prokaryotic plant pathogens first discovered in 1967 (Doi et al, 1967). Due to difficulties in establishing axenic cultures of these organisms (Contaldo et al, 2012; Contaldo et al, 2016; Contaldo and Bertaccini, 2019), the methods routinely used for bacterial diagnosis and taxonomy are not yet applicable to phytoplasmas. These organisms are classified in ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’, according to IRPCM (2004). For the recognition of a new subgroup, the similarity coefficient among the RFLP patterns should be 0.97 or lower
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
