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New Group 16SrIII Phytoplasma Lineages in Lithuania Exhibit rRNA Interoperon Sequence Heterogeneity

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Abstract

Previously undescribed phytoplasmas were detected in diseased plants of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) exhibiting virescence of flowers, thistle (Cirsium arvense) exhibiting symptoms of white leaf, and a Gaillardia sp. exhibiting symptoms of stunting and phyllody in Lithuania. On the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA amplified in PCR, the dandelion virescence (DanVir), cirsium whiteleaf (CirWL), and gaillardia phyllody (GaiPh) phytoplasmas were classified in phylogenetic group 16SrIII (X-disease phytoplasma group), new subgroups III-P and III-R and subgroup III-B, respectively. RFLP and nucleotide sequence analyses revealed 16S rRNA interoperon sequence heterogeneity in the two rRNA operons, rrnA and rrnB, of both DanVir and CirWL. Results from phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences of 16S rDNA were consistent with recognition of the two new subgroups as representatives of distinct new lineages within the group 16SrIII phytoplasma subclade. The branching order of rrnA and rrnB sequences in the phylogenetic tree supported this interpretation and indicated recent common ancestry of the two rRNA operons in each of the phytoplasmas exhibiting interoperon heterogeneity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Botany, 2021, Vilnius, Lithuania

    R. Jomantiene, D. Valiunas & A. Alminaite

  2. Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    R. Jomantiene & R.E. Davis

Authors
  1. R. Jomantiene
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  2. R.E. Davis
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  3. D. Valiunas
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  4. A. Alminaite
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Correspondence to R.E. Davis.

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Jomantiene, R., Davis, R., Valiunas, D. et al. New Group 16SrIII Phytoplasma Lineages in Lithuania Exhibit rRNA Interoperon Sequence Heterogeneity. European Journal of Plant Pathology 108, 507–517 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019982418063

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