Multigene characterization of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’ related strain associated with phyllody disease of coriander in India

Coriander is one of the important seed spices cultivated throughout India. The yield of the crop is very low due to the presence of many pests and diseases that are major constraints in the production. Among them phytoplasmas are one of the most economically important pathogens associated with significant yield losses. During a survey, coriander plants exhibiting phyllody symptoms were collected from Chikkabalpur dist, Karnataka (India) and the phytoplasma presence was detected through PCR using 16Sr RNA, secY, ribosomal protein (rp) and secA genes specific primers. All symptomatic coriander samples gave amplification using primers for conserved and less conserved phytoplasma genetic regions. In particular, the virtual RFLP pattern of the 16S rRNA gene, similarity coefficient 0.97 to ‘Ca. P. australasia’ enclosed it the subgroup 16SrII-D with some restriction enzyme differences. Based on the threshold similarity coefficient, this phytoplasma is related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’, however it shows some 16S ribosomal differences that could allow its differentiation from it. This is the first report of phytoplasmas associated with the phyllody disease of coriander from India.