ARS | Publication request: PHYTOPLASMAS ASSOCIATED WITH CLOVER PHYLLODY AND CLOVER DWARF DISEASES IN LITHUANIA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 7, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Symptoms of clover phyllody and clover dwarf diseases were observed in plants of clover (Trifolium spp.) in the field in Lithuania. Results from phytoplasma group-specific polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and from RFLP analysis of amplified 16S rDNA indicated that the plants were infected by two mutually distinct phytoplasmas. Clover phyllody diseased plants were infected by phytoplasma strains that were indistinguishable from clover phyllody (CPh) phytoplasma. Clover dwarf-diseased plants were infected by both CPh phytoplasma and a phytoplasma, termed CYE-L, that was similar to clover yellow edge (CYE) phytoplasma. A 1.8 kbp fragment of rRNA operon from CYE-L was cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. The sequence shared 99.7% similarity with that of CYE phytoplasma and exhibited no differences from CYE phytoplasma in RFLP patterns of 16S rDNA. Based on the results, phytoplasma CYE-L was tentatively classified in subgroup B (type strain, CYE phytoplasma) of group 16SrIII (X-disease phytoplasma group)