Molecular characterisation of phytoplasmas infecting Dimorphandra spp. in Brazil
Abstract
Dimorphandra sp., known as “fava d'anta” and “faveiro”, is an endemic species in several South American countries. Symptomatic trees, with witches’ broom growths and other symptoms characteristic of diseases associated with phytoplasma presence, were found harbouring phytoplasmas showing differences from those reported so far in Brazil. Ribosomal gene sequencing of one of these strains indicated that it shared 99% of its identity with phytoplasmas enclosed in 16SrXIII group, detected in Mexico, Argentina and Bolivia. RFLP analyses on the ribosomal gene, and further characterisation of the rp gene, also showed the similarity of these with phytoplasmas detected in Turnera sp. in Brazil.
Keywords
Dimorphandra gardneriana, Dimorphandra mollis, witches’ broom, 16S ribosomal group, classification
