Multigene characterization of phytoplasmas enclosed in 16SrIX group infecting different host plant species

The presence of phytoplasmas enclosed in 16SrIX-C subgroup is spread in several countries of at least three continents and the molecular differentiation of phytoplasmas in this group is relevant for epidemiological and quarantine reasons. A differentiation of phytoplasmas detected in diverse host plant species in different geographic areas in Europe and America by multigene analyses was carried out on cultivated (daisy and periwinkle) and wild species (common dandelion). The 16SrIX-C phytoplasma RFLP and sequencing results of rp, secA, secY, leu, imp and tuf genes resulted in the differentiation of the studied strains mainly according with both host species and geographic distribution.