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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED RESOURCE CENTER FOR PHYTOPLASMA RESEARCH

Author
item Shao, Jonathan
item Lee, Ing Ming
item Zhao, Yan
item WEI, W - PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA
item JOMANTIENE, R - VILNIUS LITHUANIA
item Davis, Robert

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Potomac Division Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/11/2006
Publication Date: 4/12/2006
Citation: Shao, J.Y., Lee, I., Zhao, Y., Wei, W., Jomantiene, R., Davis, R.E. 2006.Development of an interactive web-based resource center for phytoplasma research. American Phytopathological Society Potomac Division Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Phytoplasmas are cell-wall-less bacteria that specifically inhabit phloem sieve cells of plants and are transmitted from plant to plant by insect vectors, primarily phloem-feeding leafhoppers. Along with Mycoplasma and other genera of wall-less bacteria, phytoplasmas are classified in class Mollicutes, but unlike many other members of the class, phytoplasmas cannot be isolated in culture. Currently, no less than 15 groups, each representing a distinct species, and over 40 subgroups have been delineated based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of 16S rDNA, tuf gene, and ribosomal protein gene sequences. New phytoplasmas are discovered each year, and work in phytoplasma classification, phylogeny, genomics is accelerating. To keep pace with this rapid progress, we are constructing a web-based resource including up-to-date information on phytoplasma strains, group and subgroup affiliations, described 'Candidatus Phytoplasma species', plant hosts, insect vectors, countries of origin, sources of gene sequence data, and published references. The site will also provide interactive tools for phytoplasma identification, classification, and genomics to further aid the field of phytoplasma research.