First report of a 16SrI, Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris group phytoplasma associated with a date palm disease in Saudi Arabia

Phytoplasmas associated with date palm in the continental USA: three 16SrIV subgroups

“…Phytoplasma diseases of date palms have been reported from Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Sudan (Al-Awadhi et al, 2002;Alhudaib et al, 2008;Alhudaib et al, 2014;Al Khazindar, 2014;Ammar et al, 2005;Cronjé et al, 2000;El-Zayat et al, 2002). Thus far, the phytoplasma groups implicated in these disease have been identified as group 16SrI (Egypt and Saudi Arabia) (Alhudaib et al, 2008;Al Khazindar, 2014), 16SrII (Saudi Arabia) (Alhudaib et al, 2014) and 16SrXIV (Sudan) (Cronjé et al, 2000).…”

Phytoplasmas and Phytoplasma Diseases: A Severe Threat to Agriculture

“…More recently, phytoplasmas from other 16S ribosomal groups have been associated with diseases showing similar symptoms in palms in other parts of the world. In Saudi Arabia, a 16SrI group was found associated with the Al-Wijam disease of date palm [73] while in North Sudan, 16SrXIV group phytoplasmas were found (Table 1) in this species showing white tip die back and in mature palms with slow decline symptoms [70] [74] [75]. Recently, a 16SrVI phytoplasma was associated with coconut yellow decline and oil palm decline in Malaysia [70] [71].…”

Detection and Molecular Identification of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma in Date Palm in Egypt

“…The AY phytoplasma present in the infected date palm samples was probably transferred from Saudi Arabia in infected trees, seedlings or through its vector, as our Egyptian isolate is grouped with AY phytoplasma of date palm in Saudi Arabia which causes Al‐Wijam disease (Alhudaib et al. ).…”

“…; Alhudaib et al. ). AY‐Wijam disease could have possibly reached Egypt through insect vectors, infected seedlings and/or seeds.…”