Rice yellow dwarf phytoplasma (16Sr XI-B subgroup) infecting Jasminum sambac in India

Abstract

Leaf yellowing and witches’ broom symptoms were recorded on Jasminum sambac (L.) plants in August 2012 at Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Total DNA was isolated from symptomatic jasmine plants and nested PCR was performed using primers pairs P1/P7 and 3Far/3Rev. Expected size amplicons of ~1.3 kb were obtained in nested PCR from symptomatic jasmine plants which were cloned and sequenced. BLASTn analysis of partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of jasmine leaf yellows and witches’ broom (Jas LY and WB) isolate revealed highest sequence identity (99%) with phytoplasma associated with sugarcane white leaf, sugarcane grassy shoot, coconut root wilt, sorghum grassy shoot and goose grass white leaf, all members of the rice yellow dwarf phytoplasma (16Sr XI) group. Phylogenetic analysis of the Jas LY and WB phytoplasma sequence revealed further its closest relationship with members of the 16Sr XI group. This confirms the association of 16Sr XI group phytoplasma with Jas LY and WB disease. Real and virtual RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA gene of jasmine phytoplasma further confirmed that it belonged to the 16Sr XI-B subgroup. This is the first report of 16SXI-B subgroup phytoplasma infection on Jasminum sambac in the world.