1DiSTA, Plant Pathology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
2Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection, Belgrade, Serbia
*e-mail: assunta.bertaccini@unibo.it
**e-mail: bojan.duduk@pesting.org.rs
Online published on 21 February, 2012.
Numerous phytoplasma-associated diseases are causing severe epidemics that are in some cases emerging diseases in several parts of the world. Detection and fine molecular characterization of associated-phytoplasmas is a key for understanding disease cycle and for planning the correct disease management strategies. Molecular diversity of phytoplasmas is achieved by multilocus identification using, besides the 16S rDNA gene, ribosomal proteins S3, tuf, SecY, amp, imp and GroEl genes. Phytoplasmas associated with emerging diseases mainly belong to ribosomal groups 16SrII and 16SrIX although phytoplasma strains belonging to other groups such as 16SrIII, 16SrVI, 16SrVII and 16SrXII in different areas of the world can also be regarded as associated with possible emerging diseases.
phytoplasma, epidemic, detection, classification, plant diseases
