Journal of Phytopathology (2011) 159, 120-123

Parham Hosseini, Masoud Bahar, Golnoush Madani and Leila Zirak (2011)
Molecular characterization of a phytoplasma associated with potato witches'-broom disease in Iran
Journal of Phytopathology 159 (2), 120-123
Abstract: Potato plants showing symptoms suggestive of potato witches'-broom disease including witches'-broom, little leaf, stunting, yellowing and swollen shoots formation in tubers were observed in the central Iran. For phytoplasma detection, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and nested PCR assays were performed using phytoplasma universal primer pair P1/P7, followed by primer pair R16F2n/R16R2. Random fragment length polymorphism analysis of potato phytoplasma isolates collected from different production areas using the CfoI restriction enzyme indicated that potato witches'-broom phytoplasma isolate (PoWB) is genetically different from phytoplasmas associated with potato purple top disease in Iran. Sequence analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene amplified by nested PCR indicated that `Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' is associated with potato witches'-broom disease in Iran. This is the first report of potato witches'-broom disease in Iran.
(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): Parham Hosseini, Leila Zirak

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytoplasma trifolii	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)	Iran