Multigene analyses for identification of phytoplasma strains infecting Dimorphandra gardneriana and Turnera ulmifolia in Brazil

Turnera ulmifolia, the yellow alder, and Dimorphandra gardneriana, known as “fava d'anta” are plant species distributed in Brazil. In several locations these plants exhibited witches’ broom growths, reduced leaf and yellowing. Phytoplasma characterization based on the 16S rDNA gene by RFLP and sequencing analyses allowed the identification of phytoplasmas of the 16SrXIII-A ribosomal group. However, their assignment to a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species was not defined. RFLP analyses and sequence comparison of non-ribosomal gene sequences (leu, tufC, secA and rp) provide however a good resolution of their molecular diversity suggesting their differentiation from ‘Ca. P. meliae’ and their possible assignment to ‘Ca. P. hispanicum’ or to a new phytoplasma taxon.