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*Corresponding author e-mail: Amit Yadav (amityadav@nccs.res.in, amityadav8@gmail.com)
The diseases associated with peanut witches’ broom phytoplasmas are observed in several legume crops and weed species with typical phyllody and witches’ broom symptoms. The presence of a phytoplasma strains belonging to 16SrII-D subgroup is reported in the common Indian weed Croton bonplandianum showing witches’ broom and phyllody. C. bonplandianum is producing widespread infestations in agriculture fields and barren lands and then pose a serious threat as possible secondary host of this phytoplasma. This is the first identification of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’-related strains in C. bonplandianum showing witches’ broom symptoms.
Peanut witches’ broom phytoplasma, 16SrII-D, Croton bonplandianum, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’, epidemiology