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A case study of FD and BN phytoplasma variability in Croatia: multigene sequence analysis approach

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Abstract

Uncultivable bacteria from the genus ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ are associated with grapevine yellows (GY) diseases worldwide. In Euro-Mediterranean viticultural areas, GY are most frequently caused by Bois Noir (BN) and Flavescence Dorée (FD) phytoplasmas. Surveys of GY in Croatia have been conducted regularly since 1997. BN phytoplasmas have been found to be widespread, while FD phytoplasmas were recently discovered in restricted areas of the country. The aim of this study was to assess the variability of genotypes involved in GY pathosystems by a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. Grapevine, weed and insect vector samples were collected from three locations. Species-specific stamp and vmp1 genes, together with house-keeping genes tuf and secY, were amplified from BN strains. In FD strains, the genes secY, map and uvrB-degV were analyzed. MLST revealed a diversity of BN genotypes, one of which was prevalent and identified in samples of grapevine and the insect vector Hyalesthes obsoletus, corroborating their affiliation to the same pathosystem. Distinct BN strains found in bindweed and two grapevine samples indicated the presence of different BN pathosystems involving a yet unidentified vector, possibly from the genus Reptalus. Moreover, a co-occurence of BN and FD phytoplasma in the same vineyard was identified. The genotyping of FD strains from both grapevine and Scaphoideus titanus showed the presence of at least two distinct FD genotypes at two different locations, suggesting separate introductions of the disease into the country. In this study, MLST proved to be a useful and informative tool in advancing the understanding of GY epidemiology in Croatia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. Xavier Foissac for kindly providing reference strains.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

This research fully complies with Ethical Standards applicable for this journal and the relevant national and international ethics related rules and professional codes of conduct.

Funding

This study was funded by the Croatian Ministry of Science Education and Sports (grant number 119-1191192-1222) and by the Ministry of Agriculture (National Survey of Quarantine Organisms Programme).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Plant Protection, Croatian Centre for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Rim 98, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Jelena Plavec, Ivana Križanac & Željko Budinšćak

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 9a, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Dijana Škorić & Martina Šeruga Musić

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  1. Jelena Plavec
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  2. Ivana Križanac
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  3. Željko Budinšćak
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  4. Dijana Škorić
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Correspondence to Martina Šeruga Musić.

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Plavec, J., Križanac, I., Budinšćak, Ž. et al. A case study of FD and BN phytoplasma variability in Croatia: multigene sequence analysis approach. Eur J Plant Pathol 142, 591–601 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-015-0637-4

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