Phytoplasma Infection Research Articles

Identifikasi Molekuler Fitoplasma yang Berasosiasi dengan Tanaman Kaktus Hias Opuntia sp.

Cactus species ( Opuntia sp.) is a popular ornamental succulent plant. Some ornamental cactus species in Indonesia showing proliferation and green mosaic pattern symptoms have been reported to be associated with phytoplasma infection. However, further molecular identification for accurate classification of the causal phytoplasma has not been done. This study aimed to diagnose phytoplasma associated with Opuntia sp. based on molecular methods involving PCR standard combined with nested-PCR, cloning and DNA sequencing. Standard PCR was carried out using P1/P7 primers followed by nested-PCR using R16F2n/R16R2 or fU5/rU3 primer pairs which amplify the 16S rRNA gene targets of 1.2 kb and 880 bp, respectively. Amplified fragment of nested-PCR using R16F2n/R16R2 primers was chosen to be cloned and sequenced for further identification and classification of phytoplasma. BLASTn analysis showed that the phytoplasma from Opuntia sp. was closely related to 16SrII group. Phylogenetic analysis and in silico RFLP indicated that phytoplasma strain infecting Opuntia sp. was a member of subgroup 16SrII-C (cactus witches’ broom phytoplasma). This is a newly report of cactus witches’ broom phytoplasma on Opuntia sp. in Indonesia.

Filamentous sieve element proteins are able to limit phloem mass flow, but not phytoplasma spread.

In Fabaceae, dispersion of forisomes-highly ordered aggregates of sieve element proteins-in response to phytoplasma infection was proposed to limit phloem mass flow and, hence, prevent pathogen spread. In this study, the involvement of filamentous sieve element proteins in the containment of phytoplasmas was investigated in non-Fabaceae plants. Healthy and infected Arabidopsis plants lacking one or two genes related to sieve element filament formation-AtSEOR1 (At3g01680), AtSEOR2 (At3g01670), and AtPP2-A1 (At4g19840)-were analysed. TEM images revealed that phytoplasma infection induces phloem protein filament formation in both the wild-type and mutant lines. This result suggests that, in contrast to previous hypotheses, sieve element filaments can be produced independently of AtSEOR1 and AtSEOR2 genes. Filament presence was accompanied by a compensatory overexpression of sieve element protein genes in infected mutant lines in comparison with wild-type lines. No correlation was found between phloem mass flow limitation and phytoplasma titre, which suggests that sieve element proteins are involved in defence mechanisms other than mechanical limitation of the pathogen.

Plant teratologies as a result of phytoplasma infections

The direct correlation between teratological cases and phytoplasma infections was ascertained in spontaneous and cultivated plant species. Plants, belonging to 31 species and 12 families, showing symptoms of growth abnormalities were collected and analysed. Attempted detection of Rhodococcus fascians by isolation, PCR indexing and 16S rRNA sequencing from fasciated tissues allowed to exclude its presence. Nested PCR by universal primers and 16S rRNA sequence analyses indicated the presence of phytoplasmas, belonging to six groups, in the 44% of symptomatic samples. Among the infected species, Austrocylindropuntia exaltata, Opuntia subulata, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia dendroides, Euphorbia linifolia, Euphorbia myrsinites, Rumex buchephalophorus, Linaria multicaulis and Fedia cornucopiae represent new phytoplasma hosts world-wide. Moreover this is the first report of phytoplasma belonging to subgroup 16SrRNA II-I in Italy. These findings together with the known erratic distribution in plant tissues of these phloem-restricted prokaryotes indicate a close correlation between fasciation and similar growth disorders and phytoplasma infections.

Molecular identification of diverse ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species associated with grapevine decline in Iran

AbstractGrapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the most important fruits in Iran where the provinces of Qazvin, Lorestan and Markazi are main producers. During 2013–2015, vineyards located in these provinces were surveyed to verify the presence of phytoplasma. The sample collection was based on symptomatology including decline, leaf yellowing and shortening of internodes. Total DNA was extracted from symptomatic and symptomless grapevine samples and used in nested‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with phytoplasma ribosomal primers (P1/Tint followed by R16F2n/R2, R16mF1/mR1, R16(I)F1/R1 or 6R758f/16R1232r). Nested‐PCR products were obtained only for symptomatic samples while samples from symptomless plants yielded no PCR products. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses with Tru1I, TaqI and Tsp509I and direct sequencing of amplicons followed by phylogenetic analyses indicated the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini’, ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’, ‘Ca. P. solani’ and ‘Ca. P. phoenicium’‐related strains. In Marzaki province, there ‘Ca. P. aurantifolia’ strains were mainly detected, while in the other two provinces, all the four ‘Candidatus species’ were identified with the prevalence of ‘Ca. P. solani’‐related strains. In both provinces in one case, mixed phytoplasma infection was also detected by RFLP analyses. The presence of different phytoplasmas in positive samples indicates great phytosanitary significance due to grapevine economic importance for country. Grapevine phytoplasma infection represents a threat for other crops suggesting grapevine as alternative host species for the phytoplasmas already reported in Iran, while the ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ is for the first time identified in Iran.

Pathogen-Induced Leaf Chlorosis: Products of Chlorophyll Breakdown Found in Degreened Leaves of Phytoplasma-Infected Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) and Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Trees Relate to the Pheophorbide a Oxygenase/Phyllobilin Pathway.

Phytoplasmoses such as apple proliferation (AP) and European stone fruit yellows (ESFY) cause severe economic losses in fruit production. A common symptom of both phytoplasma diseases is early yellowing or leaf chlorosis. Even though chlorosis is a well-studied symptom of biotic and abiotic stresses, its biochemical pathways are hardly known. In particular, in this context, a potential role of the senescence-related pheophorbide a oxygenase/phyllobilin (PaO/PB) pathway is elusive, which degrades chlorophyll (Chl) to phyllobilins (PBs), most notably to colorless nonfluorescent Chl catabolites (NCCs). In this work, we identified the Chl catabolites in extracts of healthy senescent apple and apricot leaves. In extracts of apple tree leaves, a total of 12 Chl catabolites were detected, and in extracts of leaves of the apricot tree 16 Chl catabolites were found. The seven major NCC fractions in the leaves of both fruit tree species were identical and displayed known structures. All of the major Chl catabolites were also found in leaf extracts from AP- or ESFY-infected trees, providing the first evidence that the PaO/PB pathway is relevant also for pathogen-induced chlorosis. This work supports the hypothesis that Chl breakdown in senescence and phytoplasma infection proceeds via a common pathway in some members of the Rosaceae family.

Screening Napier grass accessions for resistance to Napier grass stunt disease using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP)

Napier grass stunt (NGS) disease is a major threat to Napier grass cultivation and the smallholder dairy industry in East and Central Africa. The disease is caused by a phytoplasma, which is transmitted by the leafhopper Maiestas banda (Kramer) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The current study was conducted to identify among 65 Napier grass accessions that could be resistant to NGS disease using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification of DNA (LAMP). The accessions were caged with NGS phytoplasma-infected Napier grass as inoculum source and M. banda as the vector. All Napier grass accessions were subjected to phytoplasma testing thereafter 18 phytoplasma negative and five asymptomatic accessions were selected and used in further screening by subjecting the extracted DNA to LAMP. Plant response to the NGS phytoplasma by symptom expression, impact on yield-related parameters and phytoplasma infection was used to evaluate tolerance or resistance over a period of three months. Most Napier grass accessions were susceptible to the disease except plants belonging to accession 16789 which were negative by LAMP. Napier grass accession 16807 was found to be tolerant with 60% plants positive by LAMP and 90% plants symptomless. Accessions 16822 and 16817 had moderate tolerance with one and two plants positive by LAMP, respectively. Accession 16812 was slightly tolerant with 58.3% plants positive by LAMP and 33.3% of the plants showing symptom remission in the second re-growth. This study indicates there could be resistance and tolerance to NGS disease which could be exploited in the development of an integrated management strategy for this disease.

Diverse phytoplasmas associated with leguminous crops in Russia

A large scale survey of diseased legume plants (mainly clover and alfalfa in the Fabaceae family) was conducted from 2009 to 2013 in four Economic Regions of Russia, Northern (Arkhangelsk and Vologda oblast), Central (Moscow oblast), Volga (Samara oblast) and West Siberian (Novosibirsk oblast). The majority of infected clover plants exhibited symptoms typical of clover phyllody (CPh), clover yellow edge (CYE), or clover proliferation (CP), and infected alfalfa plants exhibited symptoms typical of alfalfa witches’-broom (AWB). Of 161 symptomatic plants from 22 different legume species, 103 tested positive for phytoplasma infection. Phytoplasmas belonging to four groups and six subgroups were detected, of which 31.1% were group 16SrI, with the majority belonging to subgroup 16SrI-C- (causal agent of CPh disease), two belonging to 16SrI-B and two group 16SrI phytoplasmas not identified to the subgroup level;47.6% were group 16SrIII, with the majority belonging to subgroup 16SrIII-B or 16SrIII-B variant (causal agent of CYE disease), and one strain belonging to16SrIII-F; 8.7% were subgroup 16SrVI-A (causal agent of CP and AWB diseases); 9.7% were subgroup 16SrXII-A (causal agent of AWB disease); and 2.9% were mixed infected with subgroups 16SrIII-B and 16SrI-C. The predominant phytoplasma species detected varied by region. In the Northern and Central Regions, the majority of the phytoplasmas detected belonged to subgroups 16SrI-C and 16SrIII-B. In the West Siberian and the Volga Regions, the phytoplasmas predominately detected belonged to subgroups 16SrVI-A and 16SrXII-A, respectively. Subgroup 16SrIII-F was detected in a single plant in the West Siberian Region and a mixed infection of 16SrIII-B and 16SrI-C was detected in three plants, one in the Northern Region and two in the Central Region. Eleven species of insects of the order Hemiptera, suborder Auchenorrhyncha, were collected from leguminous plants in the Moscow oblast of the Central Region. Euscelis incisus and Aphrodes bicinctus were the most prevalent species and may be potential phytoplasma vectors in the Central Region.

Biochemical changes in the leaves of mungbean (Vigna radiata) plants infected by phytoplasma

Abstract Objective Phyllody disease caused by phytoplasma is an emerging problem in mungbean worldwide. However, the alterations in the host physiology and its associated biochemical components induced by the infection with phytoplasma in mungbean plant remain unknown. Hence the present study was performed with the diseased plants in order to determine the patho-physiological changes that take place. Methods Under present study, the changes in total phenolic compounds, total soluble proteins, peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were studied in leaves of phytoplasma-infected and healthy plants of six mungbean genotypes. Results Total phenols were decreased significantly in four but increased in one genotype. Protein contents were increased significantly in two genotypes, POD in four, PPO in one and PAL in two genotypes. However, activity of CAT and amount of Chl a, Chl b and total Chl were decreased significantly in all genotypes. Conclusion These results suggest that phytoplasma can interfere with host metabolism and photosynthesis to induce disease. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the mungbean response to phytoplasma infection.

Phytoplasma diseases of ornamental plants: An Indian overview

The economic importance of ornamentals has been progressing significantly in many countries with international demand expanding continuously. Cut flowers represent the largest segment of the industry followed by flowering potted plants, trees, shrubs, annuals, flower bulbs and other propagation materials. Like other crops, ornamental plants are also affected by a number of pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas etc. Among them, the phytoplasmas are equally important group of pathogens which drastically damage growth and marketing parameters of ornamental plants and thereby affecting their commercial value. Phytoplasmas cause diseases in several commercial cut flowers and ornamental plants causing serious economic losses all over the world. Phytoplasma diseases are a major constraint in commercial production of ornamental plants by lowering the quantum and quality gaining international importance. So far more than 26 ornamental plant species have been reported to be associated with phytoplasma infection from all over India belonging to six different phytoplasma groups, viz. aster yellows (16SrI), peanut witches ’broom (16SrII), clover proliferation(16SrVI), pigeon pea witches ’broom(16SrIX), rice yellow dwarf(16SrXI) and bermuda grass white leaf (16SrXIV) phytoplasma. Limited studies are made towards epidemiological aspects of these diseases in India. Major management practices adapted for phytoplasma disease management are using tetracycline treatment, insecticides for vector control and micropropagation for emission and elimination of phytoplasmas. In this review, an update status of progress on research work done on phytoplasma diseases of ornamentals in India is discussed.

16SrIII-J phytoplasmas infecting lettuce and Swiss chard crops in Chile

During spring 2016 commercial lettuce and Swiss chard plants, exhibiting disease symptoms suggestive of possible phytoplasma infection, were collected together with asymptomatic plants in Metropolitana and Arica y Parinacota regions of Chile, respectively. Nucleic acids extracted from leaf midribs were used for phytoplasmas detection. Nested polymerase chain reaction allowed the amplification of bands of the expected size only from symptomatic samples. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, cloning, and sequencing allowed the identification of 16SrIII-J phytoplasmas in both plant species.

Identification of mixed phytoplasma infection in Cistus ladanifer

Identification of mixed phytoplasma infection in <i>Cistus ladanifer</i>

Detection and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas associated with vegetable and alfalfa crops in Qassim region

ABSTRACTDuring a survey conducted in Qassim province, Saudi Arabia, in the year in 2015, 120 samples of carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus), onion (Allium cepa), faba bean (Vicia faba), green mustard (Brassica juncea) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plants displaying symptoms reminiscent of phytoplasma diseases were collected and tested for phytoplasma infection. Phytoplasma-specific PCR products were only amplified from symptomatic plants by nested-PCR. Disease incidence ranged from 3.14% in alfalfa crop fields 1 year after cultivation to 77.48% in 3-year-old fields. In the five carrot fields sampled in this study, the incidence changed from 3.2% to 100% after 7 months of cultivation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all Qassim phytoplasma isolates belong to the 16SrII group. Most of them shared 100% identity with papaya yellow crinkle (16SrII-D Y10097). The results from phylogenetic and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that the phytoplasma of Qassim isolates under study is a member of 16SrII-D subgroup. To the best of my knowledge, the onion and green mustard are considered new hosts for the 16SrII group; therefore, this is the first report on the association of phytoplasma with diseases of faba bean, onion, carrot, mustard and alfalfa in Qassim province, Saudi Arabia.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Paulownia fortunei Response to Phytoplasma Infection with Dimethyl Sulfate Treatment

Paulownia fortunei is a widely cultivated economic forest tree species that is susceptible to infection with phytoplasma, resulting in Paulownia witches' broom (PaWB) disease. Diseased P. fortunei is characterized by stunted growth, witches' broom, shortened internodes, and etiolated and smaller leaves. To understand the molecular mechanism of its pathogenesis, we applied isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry approaches to study changes in the proteomes of healthy P. fortunei, PaWB-infected P. fortunei, and PaWB-infected P. fortunei treated with 15 mg·L−1 or 75 mg·L−1 dimethyl sulfate. We identified 2969 proteins and 104 and 32 differentially abundant proteins that were phytoplasma infection responsive and dimethyl sulfate responsive, respectively. Based on our analysis of the different proteomes, 27 PaWB-related proteins were identified. The protein-protein interactions of these 27 proteins were analyzed and classified into four groups (photosynthesis-related, energy-related, ribosome-related, and individual proteins). These PaWB-related proteins may help in developing a deeper understanding of how PaWB affects the morphological characteristics of P. fortunei and further establish the mechanisms involved in the response of P. fortunei to phytoplasma.

К вопросу о сохранении и передаче фитоплазменной инфекции клубнями картофеля

К вопросу о сохранении и передаче фитоплазменной инфекции клубнями картофеля

Identifying local drivers of a vector-pathogen-disease system using Bayesian modeling

‘Bois noir’ is a phytoplasma-mediated grapevine yellows disease that causes great economic damage in European vineyards. Previous studies have examined habitat relationships on a regional scale, which help to better understand the large-scale epidemiology. Local drivers, such as micro-habitat preferences of the vector (Hyalesthes obsoletus, a cixiid planthopper), or local interactions with reservoir host plants, however, are still poorly understood, although this knowledge is crucial for developing site-specific management strategies.Here, we examined the local environment-species relationships of a phytoplasma-mediated grapevine disease on a scale of 15m in a 2.9ha vineyard using: (i) data on elevation and habitat types; (ii) cover of host plants Urtica dioica and Convolvulus arvensis over three seasons, (iii) vector monitoring over four seasons; (iv) genetic tests for phytoplasma presence in the vector; and (v) inspection of 6056 grapevine plants for visual symptoms of the ‘bois noir’ disease. The data were analyzed in a joint causal model that describes the interplay between vector, pathogen, disease and environment, estimated with Bayesian inference.Our results indicate that surrounding natural and semi-natural vegetation (fallow land, forest and managed agricultural land) and high density of the major host plant U. dioica are associated with an increase in vector population densities. Higher vector population densities at low availability of U. dioica were associated with higher phytoplasma infection rates in the vector. The prevalence of disease symptoms in grapevine plants was nonetheless more affected by grapevine cultivar and higher elevation than by the estimated availability of infected vectors.The results of our local analysis support current bois noir management recommendations stating that (1) removal of the host plant U. dioica should be best carried out in either spring or autumn; and (2) grapevine cultivars are unequally susceptible. Moreover, we provide evidence that U. dioica control before the flight period may result in low U. dioica densities and high H. obsoletus population densities, causing an increase in vector infection rates and disease pressure.

PHYTOPLASMA DISEASES OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

Medicinal and aromatic plants include a broad array of wild and cultivated plants which contain many biologically-active compounds, known as phytochemicals, that are of great interest for their ability to promote human and animal health. The present review provides a literature overview of phytoplasma diseases affecting medicinal and aromatic plants, with an emphasis on phytoplasma taxa associated. An overview of studies that examined the effect of phytoplasma infections on phytochemical content and other secondary metabolites of affected plants is also included. Phytoplasma diseases of medicinal and aromatic plants occur worldwide; however, the majority of reports are from Europe and southeastern Asian countries. These diseases affect plant species belonging to over 70 families, mostly to Apiaceae and Asteraceae. They differ considerably in geographic distribution and size of the various taxonomic groups and subgroups of the associated phytoplasmas. Subgroup 16SrI-B phytoplasmas are the prevalent agents occurring mainly in Europe, North America and Asia. Phytoplasma presence induces changes in the amount and composition of secondary metabolites in diseased plants in which, however, the concentrations of valuable phytochemicals are greatly affected. An exception is represented by phytoplasma diseases of periwinkle in which an accumulation of pharmaceutically important compounds occurs upon phytoplasma infections. Prospects for future research are identified and critically discussed as well.

First Report of the Association of the 16SrII-D Phytoplasma Subgroup With Little Leaf Disease of Crotalaria in Karnataka, India

Smooth rattle pods plants (Crotalaria pallida Aiton. [Fabaceae]) are commonly grown as fodder and green manure in tropical and subtropical regions. In India, they are commonly used as nitrogen fixer in various agro-systems and as a source of various organic residues for soil nutrition enrichment. C. pallida is also used in folk medicine to treat urinary infections and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The extracted oil from the leaves of C. pallida is known for its antimicrobial properties. In January 2016, C. pallida grown in Mysuru area, Karnataka (India) was found associated with a characteristic little leaf disease, which was suggestive of phytoplasma infection. Symptoms also included small, yellow leaves with reduced lamina, stunting, and phyllody. The disease was noticed in the wild as well as in field-grown green manure crop. Approximately 30 to 50 plants from seven fields; that is, 10 to 15 plants randomly selected in 3 to 5 rows, were visually recorded for disease symptoms. Thirty-two out of 282 plants in different fields were estimated with phyllody symptoms, resulting in disease incidence of 11%. Leaf samples from five symptom-bearing plants along with two healthy leaf samples were collected and the DNA was manually extracted using a GenElute Plant Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit (Sigma-Aldrich, USA). PCR was performed to amplify the phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene using P1/P7 primers (Smart et al. 1996). The expected 1.8-kb amplicons were detected from symptomatic Crotalaria samples and none from the asymptomatic ones. The PCR products were purified, sequenced, and the consensus sequence was deposited in GenBank with accession number KX013260 (1,566 bp). It showed a 99% sequence identity with phytoplasma members of the group 16SrII ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia.’ The iPhyClassifier analysis (http://plantpathology.ba.ars.usda.gov/cgi-bin/resource/iphyclassifier.cgi) revealed that the C. pallida phytoplasma (KX013260) had a coefficient of similarity of 1.0 and shared identical RFLP profiles to those of Ca. P. australasia (Y10097), which belongs to the subgroup 16SrII-D. Phytoplasmas of group 16SrII-D have been found affecting various vegetables, crops, and weeds in India, including tomato, brinjal, sesame, and parthenium. Crotalaria species are the reported hosts of several groups of phytoplasma which include 16SrVII-D (C. juncea: shoot proliferation) from Brazil (Flores et al. 2013); 16SrII-A (C. szemaoensis, C. zanzibarica, C. juncea: witches’-broom) from China (Wang et al. 2007), and 16SrI-B (C. spectabilis, C. tetragona: ‘fasciation’ and witches’-broom) from India (Kumar et al. 2010). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the association of the phytoplasma subgroup 16SrII-D with a disease on C. pallida in India. Recent disease reports and nucleotide sequence submissions revealed that the 16SrII phytoplasmas possess a wide plant host range; particularly economically important Fabaceae pulse crops (Thorat et al. 2016). Understanding the etiology and management of little leaf disease of C. pallida is critical as this may be a potential reservoir for 16SrII phytoplasmas.

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense’-related strains associated with papaya bunchy top disease in northern Peru represent a distinct geographic lineage

During the 2015–2016 fruit production season, a papaya bunchy top (PBT) disease was observed in a papaya production farm located at Region de Piura, northern Peru. Affected plants exhibited symptoms of excessive proliferation of auxiliary shoots at the top or near top of the main stem, shortening of internodes, leaf yellowing, and necrosis of leaf veins. The symptom syndrome suggested possible infection by a phytoplasma, and the recent discovery of a phytoplasmal disease in a nearby vineyard also indicated that a phytoplasma reservoir and potential vector(s) were present in the area. Molecular diagnostic assays for phytoplasma detection were therefore employed. Nested polymerase chain reactions and subsequent nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed that phytoplasma infection did occur in the papaya production farm. The phytoplasma strains found to be associated with the PBT disease are affiliated with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense’, a species that had previously never been implicated in a papaya disease anywhere in the world. We provide molecular evidence to suggest that the papaya-infecting phytoplasma strains identified in this study are closely related to a phytoplasma associated with the first grapevine yellows (GY) disease that we recently identified in Peru. The results of our study indicate that these PBT and GY phytoplasma strains in Peru represent an emerging geographic lineage that is distinct from those of all other known ‘Ca. Phytoplasma brasiliense’ strains in the Americas.

A 16SrXIII-E subgroup phytoplasma is associated with Thunbergia erecta yellow leaf in Brazil

In Brazil, plants of Thunbergia erecta were observed showing symptoms of little leaf, yellowing and stunting typical of phytoplasma infection. Using PCR, a phytoplasma was identified in symptomatic plants, and sequence analysis showed that the phytoplasma shares a 99.3 % sequence identity with ‘Candidatus phytoplasma hispanicum’ and is a strain related to this species. To our knowledge, this if the first time a phytoplasma had been detected in T. erecta and within the Acanthaceae family.

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel eukaryotes elongation factor1A gene (ZjeEF-1α) from Chinese jujube in response to phytoplasma infection

Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) in plant is a multifunctional protein. In our previous study, we identified a 651-bp EST sequence of eEF-1α from a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library of Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), which was established under jujube witches' broom (JWB) phytoplasma stress. Here we isolated the eEF1A gene (ZjeEF-1α, JF488063) from Chinese jujube by single oligonucleotide nested (SON)-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). ZjeEF-1α contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1344 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 447 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 49.29 kDa and a theoretical pI of 9.10. ZjeEF-1α shared over 92% similarity with eEF-1α proteins from other 24 eukaryotes including plants and animals. Search Pfam predicted that ZjeEF-1A contains three typical eEF1A functional domains. Moreover, the corresponding genomic sequence of ZjeEF-1α was also sequenced, in which a 115-bp intervening sequence with splicing site GT-AG was found. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting assays revealed that the expression of ZjeEF-1α was enhanced in resistant cultivar ‘Xingguang’ and decreased in sensitive cultivar ‘Zanhuangdazao’ at early stages of phytoplasma infection. It is proved that ZjeEF-1A expression is early response to phytoplasma infection and its possible functions in resistant process to JWB phytoplasma are discussed.