Journal of Applied Microbiology (2007) 103, 2325-2330

S. Botti and A. Bertaccini (2007)
Grapevine yellows in Northern Italy: molecular identification of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma strains and of Bois Noir phytoplasmas
Journal of Applied Microbiology 103 (6), 2325-2330
Abstract: Aims: Verify the presence and the molecular identity of phytoplasmas in Northern and Central Italy vineyards where yellows diseases are widespread.
Methods and Results: Phytoplasma presence and identity were determined by PCR/RFLP analyses on 16S ribosomal gene testing 1424 symptomatic samples. The 65% of samples resulted phytoplasma infected; in particular 256 samples were found positive to phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrV (mainly Flavescence dorée associated), and the remaining 37% was infected by phytoplasmas belonging to ribosomal subgroup 16SrXII-A (Stolbur or Bois Noir associated). 16SrV ribosomal group representative strains were further typed for variability in SecY and rpS3 genes. The results showed the presence of phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrV-C, 16SrV-D and to a lesser extent, 16SrV-A subgroup.
Conclusions: Possible relationships between genetic polymorphisms of phytoplasma strains belonging to subgroup 16SrV-C and their geographic distribution and/or epidemic situations were detected.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Bois Noir and Flavescence dorée phytoplasmas are present in significant percentages in the areas under investigation. Molecular tools allowed to identify phytoplasma-infected plants and the genes employed as polymorphism markers resulted useful in distinguishing and monitoring the spreading of the diseases associated with diverse phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrV subgroup in vineyards.
(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:
identification/taxonomy
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma vitis	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy
	16SrXII phytoplasma group	Grapevine (Vitis)	Italy