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Characterization of a 16SrI-B Subgroup Phytoplasma Associated with Sugarcane Leaf Yellows Disease in India

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Abstract

Leaf mid-rib yellowing along with yellowing of adjoining lamina and development of irregular yellow patches on leaf lamina was observed on two sugarcane varieties (CoLk 94184, CoSe 92423) during 2013–2014 crop season. Phytoplasma association with leaf yellows and leaf lamina with yellow patches symptomatic samples was confirmed through PCR and nested PCR assays using phytoplasma specific primers P1/P6 followed by R16F2n/R16R2. Sequencing and BLASTn analysis of ~1.2 kb product of 16Sr RNA gene fragments of the two phytoplasmas shared 99 and 100 % sequence identity with strains of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ (16SrI). Further characterization through in silico restriction enzyme digestion of 16Sr DNA using iPhyClassifier online tool assigned both the strains into subgroup 16SrI-B and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that both the phytoplasmas were closely related to 16SrI group. This is the first report of association of 16SrI-B subgroup phytoplasma with sugarcane leaf yellows disease in India.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, India, for providing financial assistance during the course of the study. The authors wish to express sincere thanks to the Head, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, for providing laboratory facilities. The help rendered by Director, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India during field visit is sincerely acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Institute of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Shailender Kumar & G. P. Rao

  2. Sugarcane Research Institute, UP Council of Sugarcane Research, Shahjahanpur, 242001, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajay K. Tiwari

  3. Division of Crop Protection, Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, 226002, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Somnath K. Holkar & S. K. Duttamajumder

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  1. Shailender Kumar
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  2. Ajay K. Tiwari
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  4. S. K. Duttamajumder
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  5. G. P. Rao
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Correspondence to G. P. Rao.

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Kumar, S., Tiwari, A.K., Holkar, S.K. et al. Characterization of a 16SrI-B Subgroup Phytoplasma Associated with Sugarcane Leaf Yellows Disease in India. Sugar Tech 17, 156–161 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-014-0318-1

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