Detection and Molecular Characterization of Two Little Leaf Phytoplasma Strains Associated with Pepper and Tomato Diseases in Guanajuato and Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) are important vegetable crops in Mexico. Recently, symptoms associated with phytoplasma diseases such as witches'-broom (shoot proliferation) and little leaf were observed in pepper and tomato fields in central and northwestern Mexico. DNA extracted from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants was used in nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with primers amplifying 16S rDNA sequences for phytoplasmas. Twenty-four percent of pepper and 49% of tomato samples yielded a nested rDNA product of 1.25 kb. Restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles and sequencing of PCR products allowed classification of the detected phytoplasmas with the aster yellows group (16SrI). Both phytoplasmas, pepper little leaf (PeLL) and tomato little leaf (ToLL), could be included as new members of the aster yellows group because HaeIII and TaqI restriction enzymes discriminated among these phytoplasmas and members of other 16SrI subgroups. PeLL and ToLL phytoplasma sequences were deposited and compared with those in GenBank, and the maximum identity was found with several isolates of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. The highest identity (99%) has been observed with tomatillo little leaf phytoplasma and ash witches'-broom phytoplasma. This is the first report of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’ associated with pepper and tomato diseases in the Mexican states of Guanajuato and Sinaloa.

Molecular characterization of phytoplasma diseases of pepper in Turkey

“…P. asteris" has not previously been detected in pepper in Turkey. However, this phytoplasma has been reported in pepper in India, Cuba, Mexico, New Mexico and China (Khan & Raj, 2006;Arocha et al, 2007;Santos-Cervantes et al, 2008;Randall et al, 2009;Hiruki & Wang, 2004).…”

“…P. asteris” has not previously been detected in pepper in Turkey. However, this phytoplasma has been reported in pepper in India, Cuba, Mexico, New Mexico and China (Khan & Raj, ; Arocha et al, ; Santos‐Cervantes et al, ; Randall et al, ; Hiruki & Wang, ). Moreover, according to the guidelines for assigning incompletely described prokaryotes to the provisional status of “ Candidatus” (Murray & Stackebrandt, ) and The IRPCM Phytoplasma/Spiroplasma Working Team—Phytoplasma taxonomy group (), a strain can be recognized as a novel “ Ca.…”

“…However, increased market demand owing to its value has contributed to the more intensive production of pepper. However, due to the occurrence of insect pests and disease problems, the yield and quality of the fruit are lower than expected, causing economic losses (Santos‐Cervantes, Chávez‐Medina, Mendez‐Lozano, & Leyva‐Lopez, ). Like many solanaceous species, pepper can be infected by phytoplasmas.…”

Periwinkle proliferation disease associated with 16SrI-B phytoplasma in Mexico

“…Pepper, potato, corn and other crops have been affected by 'Ca.P. asteris'-related strains (subgroup 16SrI-B) in Mexico (Santos-Cervantes et al 2008Lee et al 1998;Pérez-López et al 2016a), but this is the first time that the association of a phytoplasma belonging to the16SrI-B group with periwinkle plants displaying proliferation symptoms is demonstrated in the country. …”

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum patógeno vascular de solanáceas: Diagnóstico y control

“…La distribución geográfica de CLso se basa esencialmente en la presencia de síntomas de ZC, cuyos reportes datan desde 1984 (Secor & Rivera, 2004), la detección de este patógeno ha sido confirmada en México, EE.UU., Guatemala, Honduras (reporte en Solanum melongena y Nicotiana tabacum), Nicaragua y Nueva Zelanda (Munyaneza, 2012;Munyaneza, Sengoda, Aguilar, Bextine & McCue, 2013;Aguilar, Sengoda, Bextine, McCue & Munyaneza, 2013a, 2013bEPPO, 2013); en México, es considerado como uno de los agentes causales de la enfermedad PT, "punta morada de la papa" (ZC) y daños en chile (Munyaneza, Crosslin & Upton, 2007aSantos-Cervantes, Chávez-Medina, Méndez-Lozano & Leyva-López, 2008;Camacho-Tapia et al, 2016). Recientemente se reportó la presencia de CLso en muestras de tomate, chile y papa en los estados de Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Edo.…”