Phytoplasma cultivation: lights and shadows

The possibility to grow phytoplasmas in complex media was first demonstrated using micropropagated infected periwinkle shoots and then carried out employing naturally infected field collected plant samples. Phytoplasmas belonging to diverse ribosomal groups were isolated from infected grapevine and coconut palm tissues and in some cases also from asymptomatic tissues, especially from trees or plants growing in severely infected areas. In particular aster yellows and “stolbur” phytoplasmas, group 16SrI and 16SrXII respectively, were consistently grown among other phytoplasmas from the different plant sources employed and the first biochemical and biological characterization of some of these isolates was obtained.