1Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, (IARI), New Delhi-110012, India
2Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Deeksha Bhawan, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, 273009, India
3National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, (NBPGR), New Delhi, 1100129, India
*Corresponding author e-mail: Hemavati Ranebennur (hemaiari@gmail.com)
Online published on 23 May, 2023.
Phytoplasma symptoms of virescence and leaf yellowing were observed in Phlox drummondii in Indian Agricultural Research Institute with an incidence of about 20%. PCR assays were performed on the genomic DNA to amplify 16S rDNA region using universal primer pairs P1/P7 followed by nested primer pairs R16F2n/R16Rn. Further to examine if there was virus infection, the total RNA was used for cDNA production using RT-PCR, then amplified with primer pair targeting conserved coat protein (CP) gene of potyvirus. The specific amplicons of 1.2 kb and 860 bp of 16S rRNA and cp genes were obtained, respectively. Sequence comparison, phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI-B subgroup). Further, sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of cp gene confirmed the presence of bean common mosaic virus.
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, Potyvirus, Virescence, Ornamental crop
