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Identification and molecular characterization of a phytoplasma associated with sunflower in Argentina

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Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants showing capitulum with virescence, phyllody and flower malformation, shortened internodes and abnormal branches were found in a field in Pedro Luro (Buenos Aires province, Argentina). Pleomorphic bodies resembling phytoplasmas were observed in sieve tube elements of symptomatic plants but not in healthy ones. DNA from all symptomatic sunflower plants analysed yielded, in direct PCR with phytoplasma universal primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R2, fragments of expected size 1.8 kb and 1.2 kb, respectively. The phytoplasma associated with the disease, was named Sunflower Phyllody (SunPhy). Real and putative RFLP of the 16S rDNA showed the affiliation of SunPhy to 16SrIII (X-disease group), subgroup J. The 16S rDNA sequence from SunPhy showed the highest identity (99 %) with 16SrIII members and the phylogenetic tree confirmed a closer relationship to subgroup J of the 16SIII ribosomal group. This is the first report of a phytoplasma related to the 16SrIII group affecting sunflower.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Dr. M. Cantamutto (Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina) and MSc. J.P. Renzi (INTA, EEA-Hilario Ascasubi, Buenos Aires, Argentina) for their collaboration. This work was supported by INTA-AEPV 214012 and PICT 2010-604 grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Patología Vegetal (IPAVE), Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Camino 60 cuadras Km 5 ½, X5020ICA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Fabiana Guzmán, Fabián Giolitti, Franco Fernández, Claudia Nome, Sergio Lenardon & Luis Conci

  2. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

    Luis Conci

  3. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Argentina

    Sergio Lenardon

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  1. Fabiana Guzmán
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  2. Fabián Giolitti
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  3. Franco Fernández
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  4. Claudia Nome
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  5. Sergio Lenardon
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  6. Luis Conci
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Correspondence to Luis Conci.

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Guzmán, F., Giolitti, F., Fernández, F. et al. Identification and molecular characterization of a phytoplasma associated with sunflower in Argentina. Eur J Plant Pathol 138, 679–683 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-013-0352-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-013-0352-y

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