Taqman quantitative PCR for detection of Indian arecanut yellow leaf disease phytoplasma

Phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrXI-B subgroup are associated with the Indian arecanut yellow leaf disease (YLD). Efficient detection protocol is essential in disease management for both rouging the diseased palms and screening the seedlings used for planting. A Taqman quantitative PCR assay targeting the YLD phytoplasmas was developed. The assay was optimized and used for testing arecanut spindle leaf samples collected from plants growing in the disease endemic areas of Sullia, Karnataka. Thirteen out of 18 samples from symptomatic plants gave positive amplification. The healthy arecanut samples and negative control produced no amplification signal. Amplicon sequence confirmation ensured the reliability of the assay.