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Title: FIRST REPORT OF OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.) AS HOST OF A PHYTOPLASMA BELONGING TO GROUP 16SRI, SUBGROUP A

Author
item JOMANTIENE, RASA - INST OF BOTANY VILNIUS LH
item Davis, Robert
item ALMINAITE, AGNE - INST OF BOTANY VILNIUS LH
item VALIUNAS, DEIVIDAS - INST OF BOTANY VILNIUS LH
item JASINSKAITE, RUTA - SCI AND APPLED VILINUS LH

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Oat (Avena sativa L.) is the third most important grain crop in the United States and is an important crop in all temperate zone countries. To prevent losses due to emerging diseases in oat, it is essential to detect and identify pathogens capable of attacking this valuable grain. Prior to the present study, no phytoplasma had been identified in oats, although an early report indicated that a phytoplasma was present in diseased oats in Siberia, Russia. We observed diseased oats in a region of Lithuania, and we have used molecular methods to determine possible phytoplasmal infection of these oats. Our study resulted in the discovery of a previously undescribed phytoplasma in oats that exhibited abnormal proliferation of spikelets. We can now determine the presence of the new phytoplasma in oats and other plants, as well as in potential insect vectors. The findings will be useful to researchers, growers, and phytosanitary agencies in studies of disease epidemiology and geographic occurrence of the phytoplasma, to identify its insect vector(s), and to prevent its spread.

Technical Abstract: Not needed.