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Title: MOLECULAR DETECTION, CLASSIFICATION, AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF SUBGROUP 16SRI-C PHYTOPLASMAS DETECTED IN DISEASED POA AND FESTUCA IN LITHUANIA

Author
item VALIUNAS, D - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA
item URBANAVICIENE, L - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA
item JOMANTIENE, R - INST OF BOTANY LITHUANIA
item Davis, Robert

Submitted to: Biologija
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2006
Publication Date: 1/1/2007
Citation: Valiunas, D., Urbanaviciene, L., Jomantiene, R., Davis, R.E. 2006. Molecular detection, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of subgroup 16sri-c phytoplasmas detected in diseased poa and festuca in lithuania. Biologija. 53:36-39.

Interpretive Summary: Economically important grass species worldwide are adversely affected by diseases caused by phytoplasmas. Phytoplasmas are cell wall-less bacteria that are carried from plant to plant by insects, mainly leafhoppers. The present work was initiated to expand knowledge concerning the biodiversity of phytoplasmas infecting grass species and to understand possible relationships of diseases in grass species that are used for animal feed to diseases in cereal grass species. Using molecular methods for detection and identification, we found that a phytoplasma is the apparent cause of newly recognized diseases, which we have named poa stunt (PoaS) disease in Poa pratensis (common meadow grass) and festuca yellows (FesY) disease in Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue). The phytoplasma is related to clover phyllody disease phytoplasma known in Europe and North America. Finding this phytoplasma in P. pratensis and F. arundinacea expands the known biodiversity of phytoplasmas discovered to infect grass species. Our results raise the possibility that P. pratensis and F. arundinacea, previously undescribed as phytoplasma hosts, play a role in the epidemiology of phytoplasmal diseases affecting cereal grasses like oat and rye, and possibly other plant species, in the Baltic region. This report will be of interest to diagnostics laboratories and research scientists monitoring disease incidence and spread in grasses, including cereals.

Technical Abstract: Phytoplasma strains were detected in two grass species, Poa pratensis L. (common meadow grass) and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue), exhibiting yellows disease symptoms in Lithuania. Analysis of amplified 16S rDNAs revealed that the phytoplasmas associated with these diseases, designated as poa stunt (PoaS) and festuca yellows (FesY), respectively, were ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-related strains belonging to group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group) subgroup 16SrI-C (I-C, clover phyllody phytoplasma subgroup). Together with other data, the results strengthen the concept that subgroup I-C phytoplasma strains have broad pathogenic potential. It is possible that P. pratensis and F. arundinacea, previously undescribed as phytoplasma hosts, play a role in the epidemiology of phytoplasmal diseases affecting cereal grasses like oat and rye in the region. The insect vectors of subgroup 16SrI-C phytoplasma strains in Lithuania and neighboring countries remain unknown, emphasizing the need for future investigations to understand how these phytoplasmas spread in the Baltic region.