Bulletin of Insectology (2007) 60, 279-280

S. Davino, A. Calari, M. Davino, M. Tessitori, A. Bertaccini and M.G. Bellardi (2007)
Virescence of tenweeks stock associated to phytoplasma infection in Sicily
Bulletin of Insectology 60 (2), 279-280
First International Phytoplasmologist Working Group Meeting (IPWG), Bologna (Italy) November 12-15, 2007
Abstract: In April 2007, a severe disease occurred in Sicily (Italy) in a glasshouse cultivation of tenweeks stock belonging to the cultivar White-Beach. Plants were stunted and rosetted, and the flowers were of small size and characterized by virescence symptoms. Phytoplasma presence and identity was detected by applying PCR/RFLP techniques and sequencing of 16S ribosomal gene. Phytoplasmas were identified as belonging to ribosomal subgroup 16SrII-A, never reported before in Italy and showed 99% of homology with `Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia' and related phytoplasmas. This is the first report of a phytoplasma disease of tenweeks stock. Considering that this Brassicaceae ornamental species is widely grown in Italy, it could play an important role in spreading these phytoplasmas, new for Italy.
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Database assignments for author(s): Salvatore Walter Davino, Assunta Bertaccini, Maria Grazia Bellardi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma aurantifolia	Matthiola (crop)	Italy