Phytoplasma infefction of tomato in central Italy
Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) showing leaf yellowing or reddening, proliferation of lateral shoots, hypertrophied calyces, and greening of petals were found in four tomato-growing areas of central Italy during surveys carried out in 1999–2000. The highest disease incidence was record...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Firenze University Press
2001-08-01
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| Series: | Phytopathologia Mediterranea |
| Online Access: | https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/pm/article/view/4892 |
| Summary: | Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) showing leaf yellowing or reddening, proliferation of lateral
shoots, hypertrophied calyces, and greening of petals were found in four tomato-growing areas of central Italy
during surveys carried out in 1999–2000. The highest disease incidence was recorded in 1999 (78%) and 2000 (82%)
near Ronciglione (Viterbo province). The phytoplasmas associated with the disease were detected and characterised
using PCR and RFLP. They belonged to 16S rRNA groups I, III, V and XII (sensu Lee et al., 1998. Int. J. Syst.
Bacteriol., 48, 1153). Forty-five percent of tomato plants were infected with group I (max. 52% near Frascati and
Ronciglione), 31% with group XII (max. 39% near Ronciglione) and 24% with other groups (max. 33% near Tarquinia
and 23% near Fondi). Seven percent of tomato plants were infected with both group I and group XII. This is the first
report of a group-III and a group-V phytoplasma found in tomato. |
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| ISSN: | 0031-9465 1593-2095 |