Recent studies on phytoplasmas in Mauritius
| MSI10P4488 | |
| Dookun-Saumtally, A Joomun, N Parmessur, Y | |
| Recent studies on phytoplasmas in Mauritius | |
| Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, June 7-11, 2010, Parc des Expositions et des Congrès de Saint-Denis, Ile de la Réunion: Programme, Abstracts, List of participants | |
| book chapter | |
| 2010 | |
| p. 161 | |
| ICPPB | |
| Abstract only | |
| En | |
| En | |
| Bacteria lacking cell walls are classified as phytoplasmas and are associated with plant yellows diseases in several hundreds plant species. This group of microorganism cannot be cultured and this represents a major obstacle in their diagnosis and characterization by conventional means. However, with the advent of molecular diagnostic tools, detection of phytoplasmas has been greatly facilitated. In Mauritius, no phytoplasma had been reported until 1999, when one such pathogen was detected in tomato plants with bunchy top symptoms (1). Phytoplasmas have since been described in sugarcane (Saccharum hybrids), the weed Sorghum verlicilliflorum, potato and in the sugarcane delphacid Perkinsiella saccharicida. In sugarcane, leaf yellows disease is associated with sugarcane yellows phytoplasma (SCYP). The symptoms Include yellowing of the leaf midrib and leaf lamina, particularly in adult canes. Diagnosis is possible using a nested-PCR test with universal primers to amplify a 1250 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of the phytoplasma. Initially, three groups of phytoplasmas were detected in sugarcane namely; Western X-16Srlll, stolbur-16Srl and coconut lethal-16SrlV (2). Mixed infection with more than one group has also been observed in some cases. Subsequently, phytoplasma DNA fragments belonging to the 16Srlll-Western X group were amplified from the sugarcane delphacid P. saccharicida, sugarcane and S. verlicilliflorum. The high sequence similarity (> 99 per cent) among fragments from sugarcane, S. verlicilliflorum and P. saccharicida indicates the possible involvement of the latter as vector of SCYP in Mauritius. Phytoplasma belonging to the aster yellows group- 16Srl has also been detected by PCR from P. saccharicida. Studies are currently ongoing to establish if P. saccharicida is a vector transmitting SCYP in sugarcane in Mauritius. Phytoplasma DNA fragments belonging to the 16Srll- tomato big bud group have also been amplified from field potato plants exhibiting little leaf symptoms and aerial tuber production (3). The importance of phytoplasmas causing plant diseases in Mauritius should be given more consideration. Now that techniques are available for their detection, a thorough survey of different crops is warranted to clarify their importance. | |
| sugarcane diseases phytoplasmas leaf yellows disease detection | |
| Mauritius | |
| Sugarcane: Diseases and disease management | |
| Phytoplasmas | |
| 2010-08-06 | |
| En | |
| Biotech | |
| CAT | |
| Biotech |