Short communication. First detection of a phytoplasma infecting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Spain

Abstract

Faba bean is one of the most widely grown protein-producing food legumes. Faba bean plants showing symptoms of shoe stringed leaves, phyllody and flower abortion were observed in fields of Antequera (Málaga, Southern Spain). The etiology of this disease was investigated using graft transmission to periwinkle plants, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with phytoplasma-specific primers, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We could not obtain amplification products from asymptomatic plants, whereas all tests were positive for phytoplasma infection from plants showing symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this phytoplasma clustered in the 16SrIII group, the type member of which is X-disease phytoplasma. This is the first report of a phytoplasma infecting faba bean in Spain, and the first report of a phytoplasma in this group infecting faba bean.