Plant Disease (2007) 91, 625-630

M. Salehi, K. Izadpanah and M. Siampour (2007)
Characterization of a phytoplasma associated with cabbage yellows in Iran
Plant Disease 91 (5), 625-630
Abstract: In 2001, a disease tentatively named Iranian cabbage yellows (ICY) was observed in cabbage fields of Zarghan (Fars Province, Iran). The major symptoms of the disease were yellowing, little leaves, plant stunting, opening of the head, and proliferation of the buds at the base of the stem into a witches'-broom. Among leafhoppers collected in cabbage fields, only Circulifer haematoceps transmitted the ICY agent. The disease agent was transmitted by the leafhopper from cabbage to cabbage, cauliflower, rape, and periwinkle, causing phytoplasma-type symptoms in these plants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using phytoplasma-specific primer pair P1/P7 and nested PCR using P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 primer pairs amplified products of expected size (1.8 and 1.2 kb, respectively) from symptomatic cabbage plants. Both restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of nested PCR products (1.2 kb) and phylogenetic analyses of 16S-23S rDNA spacer region sequence indicated that the ICY phytoplasma had the closest relationship to subgroup A members of the clover proliferation group, including beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence agent, `Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii', Columbia Basin potato purple top phytoplasma, and vinca virescence phytoplasma. Cabbage is reported as a new natural host to the 16SrVI group of phytoplasmas.
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Database assignments for author(s): Keramat Izadpanah, Mohammad Salehi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	16SrVI phytoplasma group	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Iran
	Circulifer haematoceps	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Iran