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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #131195
Title: RIBOSOMAL RNA INTEROPERON SEQUENCE HETEROGENEITY IN NEW PHYTOPLASMA LINEAGES INFECTING OAK, CAMPION, THISTLE, AND DANDELION

Author
item JOMANTIENE, R - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA
item Davis, Robert
item ALMINAITE, A - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA
item VALIUNAS, D - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mature oak trees (Quercus spp.) exhibiting symptoms of shoot proliferation on the main trunk, plants of campion (Silene vulgaris) exhibiting yellowing of leaves and virescence of flowers, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) exhibiting virescence of flowers, and thistle (Cirsium arvense) exhibiting symptoms of white leaf were observed in Lithuania. Association of phytoplasma with these diseases was assessed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of phytoplasmal rDNA. Phytoplasmal rDNA was amplified, from all symptomatic plants, in PCRs primed by primer pair P1/P7, and was reamplified in nested PCR primed by primer pair R16F2n/R2 (F2n/R2). The results indicated that oak, campion, thistle, and dandelion were infected by phytoplasmas, termed oak proliferation (OakP), silene yellows (SilY), cirsium white leaf (CirWL), and dandelion virescence (DanVir) phytoplasmas, respectively. Identification of the phytoplasmas was accomplished by RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA amplified in PCR primed by F2n/R2. On the basis of collective RFLP patterns of 16S rDNA, OakP and SilY phytoplasmas were classified as members of group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group). CirWL and DanVir phytoplasmas were classified as members of group 16SrIII (X-disease phytoplasma group), new subgroups III-P and III-R, respectively. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analyses revealed 16S rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity in OatP, SilY, DanVir, and CirWL phytoplasmas. Results from phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences of 16S rDNA were consistent with the concept that CirWL and DanVir represent distinct new lineages within the group 16SrIII phytoplasma subclade.