Peach and Nectarine Affected with 16SrXII and 16SrIX Phytoplasma Groups in Northern Provinces of Iran

Özet

Phytoplasmas are insect-transmitted, phloem-inhabiting, cell wall-less prokaryotes that cause numerous diseasesin plants. A survey carried out during 2012-2013 in peach and nectarine orchards in three Northern provincesincluding Mazandaran (Sari, Neka, Babol, Behshahr and Babolsar), Golestan (Gorgan, kordkooy and Aliabad)and West Azerbaijan (Urmia, Khoy, Salmas, Oshnavieh and Makou) in Iran. A total of 103 Samples showingleaf roll, yellowing, purple colored of edges, leaf stunting and weak shoot growth symptoms were collected andtested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Nested -PCR using primer pairs P1/P7, P1/Tint, PAF/PAR,R16F2n/R2, fU5/rU3 and NPA1F/NPA1R. The amplicons were purified, sequenced and the nucleotidesequences were analyzed by virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The phytoplasmasassociated with the peach and nectarine yellow leaf roll (PYLR) disease were identified as members of 16SrXII(Stolbur group) and 16SrIX (pigeon pea) groups and were placed in a unique subgroup close to 16SrXII-A(Candidatus Phytoplasma solani) and another one in 16SrIX-C (Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenciium)subgroups, respectively in constructed phylogenetic trees. The present study is the first report of a new subgroupin 16SrXII and first report of 16SrIX-C subgroup phytoplasma associated with peach and nectarine from Northof Iran.