Occurrence and identification of grapevine phytoplasmas in main viticultural regions of Turkey

Abstract

Intensive surveys were conducted in the main viticultural areas of Turkey in 2009-2010. Two hundred eighty nine symptomatic and 20 non-symptomatic plant samples were collected and subjected to nucleic acid extraction followed by PCR, nested PCR and RFLP analyses to detect phytoplasma presence and for their identification. The incidence rate of phytoplasma infection was 18.33% and the majority of the symptomatic grapevines were infected with grapevine yellows phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrXII-A subgroup (“bois noir”). Phytoplasmas of 16SrV group, aster yellows (16SrI-B) and pigeon pea witches’ broom (16SrIX) groups were also detected in the surveyed vineyards. Phytoplasma-associated infections were present more on wine grapevine cultivars (73.6%), such as Alphonse Lavallee, Alicante Bouschet, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, compared to table grapes (26.4%), such as Bogazkere, Sirfani, Tahannebi and Emir.