Aster Yellows Subgroup 16SrI-C Phytoplasma in Rhododendron hybridum

0395153 - BC 2014 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Přibylová, Jaroslava - Špak, Josef - Fránová, Jana
Aster Yellows Subgroup 16SrI-C Phytoplasma in Rhododendron hybridum.
Journal of Phytopathology - Phytopathologische Zeitschrift. Roč. 161, 7-8 (2013), s. 590-593. ISSN 0931-1785. E-ISSN 1439-0434
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LD12074
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : electron microscopy * PCR * phytoplasma
Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology
Impact factor: 0.921, year: 2013

Symptoms of unknown aetiology on Rhododendron hybridum were observed in the Czech Republic in 2010. The infected plant had malformed leaves, with irregular shaped edges, mosaic, leaf tip necrosis and multiple axillary shoots with smaller leaves. Transmission electron microscopy showed phytoplasma-like bodies in phloem cells of the symptomatic plant. Phytoplasma presence was confirmed by PCR using phytoplasma-specific, universal and group-specific primer pairs. RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA enabled classification of the detected phytoplasma into the aster yellows subgroup I-C. Sequence analysis of the 16S-23S ribosomal operon of the amplified phytoplasma genome from the infected rhododendron plant (1724bp) confirmed the closest relationship with the Czech Echinacea purpurea phyllody phytoplasma. These data suggest Rhododendron hybridum is a new host for the aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup 16SrI-C in the Czech Republic and worldwide.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0223269