'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris', a novel phytoplasma taxon associated with aster yellows and related diseases

• Published in: International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 1037 - 1048
• Main Authors: Lee, I.-M, Gundersen-Rindal, D. E, Davis, R. E, Bottner, K. D, Marcone, C, Seemuller, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01.07.2004; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Acholeplasma; Acholeplasma - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Candidatus phytoplasma asteris; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal - isolation & purification; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, rRNA; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular Sequence Data; Oenothera hookeri; Operon; Phylogeny; Phytoplasma - classification; Phytoplasma - genetics; Phytoplasma - isolation & purification; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plants - microbiology; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Ribosomal Proteins - genetics; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sequence Homology; Systematics; Mollicutes; Plant pathogen; Taxonomy; Dicotyledones; Aster; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Spermatophyta; Compositae; Phytoplasma
• ISSN: 1466-5026; 1466-5034
• DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.02843-0

1 USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA 2 Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA 3 Dept Biologia, Difesa e Biotecnologie Agro-Forestali, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy 4 Biologische Bundesanstalt, Institut für Pflanzenschutz im Obstbau, D-69221 Dossenheim, Germany Correspondence I.-M. Lee leeim{at}ba.ars.usda.gov Aster yellows (AY) group (16SrI) phytoplasmas are associated with over 100 economically important diseases worldwide and represent the most diverse and widespread phytoplasma group. Strains that belong to the AY group form a phylogenetically discrete subclade within the phytoplasma clade and are related most closely to the stolbur phytoplasma subclade, based on analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. AY subclade strains are related more closely to their culturable relatives, Acholeplasma spp., than any other phytoplasmas known. Within the AY subclade, six distinct phylogenetic lineages were revealed. Congruent phylogenies obtained by analyses of tuf gene and ribosomal protein ( rp ) operon gene sequences further resolved the diversity among AY group phytoplasmas. Distinct phylogenetic lineages were identified by RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA, tuf or rp gene sequences. Ten subgroups were differentiated, based on analysis of rp gene sequences. It is proposed that AY group phytoplasmas represent at least one novel taxon. Strain OAY, which is a member of subgroups 16SrI-B, rp I-B and tuf I-B and is associated with evening primrose ( Oenothera hookeri ) virescence in Michigan, USA, was selected as the reference strain for the novel taxon ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. A comprehensive database of diverse AY phytoplasma strains and their geographical distribution is presented. Abbreviations: AY, aster yellows The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the aster yellows phytoplasma strain OAY sequences are M30790 (16S rDNA) and M74770 ( rpl22 – rps3 ).