Molecular detection of a 16srix-e phytoplasma in chickpea affected by witches’ broom disease in Iran

Chickpea plants showing witches’ broom, small leaves, short internodes and stunting symptoms were observed in chickpea fields in Nourabad region of Lorestan province, Iran. The occurrence of phytoplasmas was verified by nested-PCR obtaining amplicons of about 1.2 kb from DNA samples from symptomatic plants. The 16S rDNA sequence obtained from three phytoplasma strains, shared 99% identity with’ Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ and other phytoplasma strains enclosed in ribosomal group 16SrIX. The in silico RFLP analysis of the sequences obtained generated patterns identical among the tested samples and showed an identity coefficient of 0.98 with phytoplasmas enclosed in the 16SrIX-E subgroup. This is the first report of a phytoplasma infecting the chickpea plants in Iran.