Molecular study of a phytoplasma associated with safflower fasciation in Iran

Abstract

During the growing seasons of 2017 and 2018, a disease occurred in safflower fields in the south Khorasan province of Iran. Affected plants exhibited extensive fasciation, formation of bushy growth, small leaves, phyllody and shortened internodes. For detection of the putative phytoplasma(s), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed using universal phytoplasma primers pairs. Nested PCR analyses revealed that all symptomatic safflowers plants showing fasciation symptoms tested positive for phytoplasma presence, while asymptomatic plants were negative. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified a phytoplasma belonging to the peanut witches’ broom group (16SrII). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the clustering of the safflower fasciation phytoplasma (SaP) with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’-related strains.