Medicinal Plants - International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries

Portulaca oleracea L., an exotic weed with high medicinal value displaying typical phytoplasma associated symptoms, such as little leaf and yellowing were observed in sugarcane fields at Gorakhpur located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India during 2013. Molecular analysis using nested-PCR with primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2, evidenced that the phytoplasma found in all symptomatic plants. The nested PCR amplified product was sequenced. The approximately 1.2 kb PCR products that were observed in symptomatic Portulaca leaves had the highest nucleotide sequence similarity (99%) with members of ‘Ca. P. asteris’ group phytoplasma. Based on the BLAST analysis, the phytoplasma was classified as a member of the group 16SrI. Phylogenetic analysis also showed this phytoplasma as closely related to the reference strain for the group 16SrI. The P. oleracea phytoplasma was therefore assigned as 16SrI group and is the first report in India. Representatives of 16SrI phytoplasmas have been described in several cultivated and weed species in India and P. oleracea is an additional host species for this phytoplasma.