Molecular characteristics of a 16SrII subgroup C phytoplasma strain associated with camelthorn witches'-broom disease in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Protection Research Department, Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre, AREEO, Yazd, Iran.

2 Plant Protection Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centre, AREEO, Fars, Iran

Abstract

Camelthorn (Alhagi spp.) is an ecologically significant perennial weed in Iran. A recent survey indicated a potential phytoplasma-induced disease affecting its populations. Since 2017, symptoms such as the little leaf, yellowing, internode shortening, witches’-broom, and stunting have been noted in camelthorn plants in Chahgeer (Abarkooh, Yazd Province). To identify the causal agent, total DNA was extracted from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants and analyzed using nested PCR with P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 primer pairs. Phytoplasma DNA was detected exclusively in symptomatic plants. Sequence analysis confirmed a high degree of identity with previously characterized 16SrII-C subgroup phytoplasma strains. Additionally, simulated RFLP, pairwise homology, and phylogenetic analyses further validated its classification within the 16SrII-C subgroup. The identified phytoplasma is closely related to pathogens causing witches’ broom disease in regional crops, including Prunus armeniaca, Daucus sativa, Prunus persica, and Medicago sativa, suggesting its possible role in disease epidemiology. This study provides the first molecular evidence linking camelthorn witches’-broom to 16SrII-C phytoplasma, highlighting its significance in the spread of phytoplasma-associated diseases in the region.

Keywords

Journal of Advances in Plant Protection
Volume 2, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 29-36

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