International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (2005) 55, 303-307

Bernd Schneider, Ester Torres, María P. Martín, Manfred Schröder, Heinz-Dietmar Behnke and Erich Seemüller (2005)
´Candidatus Phytoplasma pini', a novel taxon from Pinus silvestris and Pinus halepensis
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 55 (1), 303-307
Abstract: Pinus silvestris and Pinus halepensis trees grown in Germany and Spain, respectively, showing abnormal shoot branching, dwarfed needles and other symptoms were examined for the presence of plant-pathogenic mollicutes (phytoplasmas). While phytoplasmas could not be detected unambiguously with microscopical methods, PCR amplification using universal phytoplasma primers yielded positive results. Samples collected from symptomatic and non-symptomatic plant parts of both symptomatic Pinus silvestris and Pinus halepensis trees tested positive. Also, surrounding non-symptomatic trees proved to be phytoplasma-infected. Comparisons revealed that the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the phytoplasmas identified in Pinus silvestris and Pinus halepensis were nearly identical. However, the pine phytoplasma is only distantly related to other phytoplasmas. The closest relatives are members of the palm lethal yellowing and rice yellow dwarf groups and `Candidatus Phytoplasma castaneae', which share between 94·5 and 96·6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. From these data it can be concluded that the phytoplasmas identified in the two Pinus species represent a coherent but discrete taxon; it is proposed that this taxon be distinguished at putative species level under the name `Candidatus Phytoplasma pini'.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Bernd Schneider

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma pini	Pine (Pinus)	Germany
	Phytoplasma pini	Pine (Pinus)	Spain (continental)