Journal of Applied Microbiology (2003) 94, 103-110

S. Botti and A. Bertaccini (2003)
Variability and functional role of chromosomal sequences in 16SrI-B subgroup phytoplasmas including aster yellows and related strains
Journal of Applied Microbiology 94 (1), 103-110
Abstract: Aims: Partial genetic characterization of several chromosomal regions on 35 16SrI-B phytoplasma strains maintained in periwinkle and collected in different geographical areas from plants of diverse species.
Methods and Results: Genes coding for ribosomal protein rpL22, elongation factor EF-Tu and random cloned sequences amplified with primers AY19p/m, G35p/m and BB88F1/R1 after RFLP analyses showed a high degree of polymorphism among the strains studied. The ribosomal protein (rp) subgroups B and K, and an undescribed subgroup designated N, were identified. Amplicons obtained with primers AY19p/m and BB88F1/R1, revealed a high and a low degree of polymorphism, respectively.
Conclusions: A probable spacer role could be attributed to the AY19p/m sequence and a possible coding function to the BB88F1/R1 sequence. No relationship was found among genetic polymorphisms, identified by statistical analyses, and epidemiological or biological parameters.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The analyses of five different genomic sequences of the 35 strains belonging to subgroup 16SrI-B allowed a finer distinction among them, confirming that the polymorphism level of 16S rDNA is too low to be adopted as unique parameter for classification.
(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): Assunta Bertaccini

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	16SrI phytoplasma group