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Molecular and biologic characterization of a phytoplasma associated with Brassica campestris phyllody disease in Punjab province, Pakistan

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Abstract

A phytoplasma-associated disease was identified in Brassica campestris (sarson) plants during a survey conducted in Punjab province of Pakistan in 2014–2016. The symptomatic plants showed characteristic symptoms of phyllody and witches’ broom. Phytoplasma presence was detected by polymerase chain reaction on 16S ribosomal and tuf DNAs, followed by RFLP analysis and sequence comparison of the 16S rRNA and tuf genes. The phytoplasma detected was classified in a new ribosomal subgroup designed 16SrIX-H. The phytoplasma presence in phloem tissues of symptomatic sarson samples was also confirmed through light microscopy and transmission studies to healthy plants through dodder and the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus. This is the first report of identification of 16SrIX-H subgroup phytoplasma associated with sarson and its natural vector in Pakistan.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by funds from Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and FICP research grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Integrated Genomics, Cellular, Developmental and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Jam Nazeer Ahmad & Muhammad Aslam

  2. Plant Stress Physiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Samina J. N. Ahmad & Muhammad Aijaz Ahmad

  3. DipSA, Plant Pathology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Nicoletta Contaldo, Samanta Paltrinieri & Assunta Bertaccini

Authors
  1. Jam Nazeer Ahmad
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  2. Samina J. N. Ahmad
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  3. Muhammad Aslam
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  4. Muhammad Aijaz Ahmad
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  5. Nicoletta Contaldo
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  6. Samanta Paltrinieri
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  7. Assunta Bertaccini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Assunta Bertaccini.

Additional information

GenBank accession number of DNA sequences KT253604 and KU892213.

All authors have reviewed the manuscript and approved its submission to European Journal of Plant Pathology. The manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere.

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Ahmad, J.N., Ahmad, S.J.N., Aslam, M. et al. Molecular and biologic characterization of a phytoplasma associated with Brassica campestris phyllody disease in Punjab province, Pakistan. Eur J Plant Pathol 149, 117–125 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-017-1170-4

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