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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 #424857
Research Project: Omics-Based Approach to Detection, Identification, and Systematics of Plant Pathogenic Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas

Location: Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory

Title: Status and distribution of diseases caused by phytoplasmas in Africa

Author
item KAZEEM, SHAKIRU - Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service
item ZWOLINSKA, AGNIESZKA - A Mickiewicz University
item MULEMA, JOSEPH - Centre For Agriculture & Biosciences International (CABI)
item OGUNFUNMILAYO, AKINDELE - Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service
item SALIHU, SHINA - National Horticultural Research Institute
item NWOGWUGWU, JOY - Forestry Research Institute Of Nigeria
item AJENE, INUSA - International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology
item OGUNSOLA, JUSTINA - Ogun State University
item ADEDIJI, ADEDAPO - Pan African University (PAUISTI)
item ODUWAYE, OLUBUSOLA - Obafemi Awolowo University
item KRA, KOUAME - Université Nangui Abrogoua
item JIBRIN, MUSTAFA - Noble Research Institute
item Wei, Wei

Submitted to: Microorganisms
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/8/2025
Publication Date: 5/27/2025
Citation: Kazeem, S.A., Zwolinska, A., Mulema, J.M., Ogunfunmilayo, A.O., Salihu, S., Nwogwugwu, J.O., Ajene, I.J., Ogunsola, J.F., Adediji, A.O., Oduwaye, O.F., Kra, K.D., Jibrin, M.O., Wei, W. 2025. Status and distribution of diseases caused by phytoplasmas in Africa. Microorganisms. 13(6):1229. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061229.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13061229

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Phytoplasma (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species) diseases have been reported globally to severely limit the productivity of various economically important crops and wild plants, resulting in different types of yellow diseases. With the advent of new molecular detection techniques, several previously unknown and known diseases, once attributed to other pathogens or characterized by uncertain etiologies, have been identified as being caused by phytoplasmas. In Africa, phytoplasmas have been linked to diseases in a wide range of host plant species. However, the limited reports of phytoplasma occurrences in Africa have not been compiled to assess their status across various countries on the continent. Therefore, this paper discusses the geographical distribution, detection methods, insect vectors, alternative hosts, and socio-economic impacts of phytoplasma diseases in Africa. The aim is to provide research perspectives on the disease’s etiology in Africa and encourage further studies to identify and mitigate their adverse effects on the continent’s agricultural economy. In Africa, phytoplasmas affecting various crops in different countries belong to eight taxonomic groups (16SrI, 16SrII, 16SrIII, 16SrIV, 16SrVI, 16SrXI, 16SrXIV, and 16SrXXII) out of the 37 groups and over 150 subgroups reported worldwide based on their 16S rRNA RFLP profiles. Lethal yellow disease is the most destructive disease caused by phytoplasma found in Africa, greatly impacting the socio-economic landscape.