Characterization of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ associated with a maize leaf reddening disease in Turkey


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Çağlar B. K., Şimşek E., Dikilitaş M., Bertaccini A.

Journal Of Phytopathology, vol.169, pp.658-666, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 169
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1111/jph.13036
  • Journal Name: Journal Of Phytopathology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.658-666
  • Keywords: 16SrXII-A subgroup, PCR, phytoplasma, tuf, vmp1, Zea mays L, STOLBUR PHYTOPLASMA, 1ST REPORT, MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION, GENETIC-VARIABILITY, REPTALUS-PANZERI, REDNESS DISEASE, CORN, CLASSIFICATION, IDENTIFICATION, EPIDEMIOLOGY
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In recent years, empty or poor grain bearing corn plants with leaf reddening symp- toms have been observed in some commercial maize production areas in the Adana province of Turkey. The disease is increasing and causing economic losses. To ver- ify the possible presence of phytoplasmas, leaf samples were tested with P1/Tint and R16F2n/R2 phytoplasma-specific primer pairs after DNA extraction. The 16S ribosomal gene sequence analysis followed by sequence in silico enzyme digestions and  phylogenetic analyses  allowed  the  identification  of Candidatus  Phytoplasma solani, subgroup of 16SrXII-A related-strain in all symptomatic samples. The positive samples were characterized using tuf and vmp1 genes. In silico restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequence analyses allowed the inclusion of all the positive samples into tuf-type b and V15 molecular types. The sequence analysis indicated the presence of a single genotype in all the tested samples (n = 12). This is the first molecular characterization of a Ca. P. solani strain infecting maize plants in Turkey. The identified pathogen is listed in the EPPO A2 list.