Phytoplasmas diversity in India

In India, 190 plant species have been associated with phytoplasma diseases that are affecting a number of crops important to agriculture, including ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, trees. In India eleven ribosomal groups of phytoplasmas were identified, the majority of which have been reported from the country’s Northeast region followed by southern part. In Central and Western India, very few phytoplasmas have been identified. While phytoplasmas were primarily confined to the Eastern and Southern regions, it is now evident that phytoplasmas are distributed in all states across India. The most common group of phytoplasmas is the 16SrI (aster yellows) followed by 16SrII group, together they were associated to over 58 diseases in India.