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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366407
Research Project: Genome-Based Strategies and Physiological Biomarkers for Detection and Identification of plant Pathogenic Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas

Location: Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory

Title: Draft genome sequence of `Candidatus Phytoplasma pini'-related strain MDPP: a resource for comparative genomics of gymnosperm-infecting phytoplasmas

Author
item CAI, WELLI - ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS)
item Shao, Jonathan
item Zhao, Yan
item Davis, Robert
item COSTANZO, STEFANO - ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS)

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2019
Publication Date: 4/1/2020
Citation: Cai, W., Shao, J.Y., Zhao, Y., Davis, R.E., Costanzo, S. 2020. Draft genome sequence of `Candidatus Phytoplasma pini'-related strain MDPP: a resource for comparative genomics of gymnosperm-infecting phytoplasmas. Plant Disease. 104/1009-1010. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2127-A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-10-19-2127-A

Interpretive Summary: 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pini' is a small bacterium that infects pine trees, causing abnormal shoot proliferation, dwarfing and decline. The bacterium lacks a rigid cell wall, occupies nutrient-conducting vessels of affected plants, and is spread by insect vectors. This pine pathogen was initially found in Europe. Recently, a similar bacterium was found in North America. To learn how such bacterium causes disease in pine, we decoded most of the genes in a North American strain of the bacterium. The findings will facilitate comparative analysis of the bacterium strains present in Europe and North America. The information will interest quarantine agencies, diagnostics laboratories, microbiologists, plant pathologists, entomologists, and the forest industry.

Technical Abstract: 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pini'-related strain MDPP, the reference strain of subgroup 16SrXXI-B, is a pathogen associated with witches' broom disease of Pinus spp. in North America. Here, we report the first draft genome sequence of 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' strain MDPP, which consists of 474,136 bases, with a G + C content of 22.22%. This information will facilitate comparative genomics of gymnosperm-infecting phytoplasmas present in Europe and North America.