Phytoplasmas in Australian grapevines - detection, differentiation and associated diseases
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5073/vitis.1999.38.107-114Keywords:
phytoplasma, Australian grapevine yellows, nested PCRs, RFLPAbstract
Phytoplasmas associated with Australian grapevine yellows (AGY) symptoms were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To optimise the diagnostic, nested PCRs were compared with single PCRs using different primer pairs. Grapevine DNA known to be AGY phytoplasma positive was serially diluted and subjected to nested and single round PCR tests to determine which was the most sensitive. Samples taken over two growing seasons were used to determine the optimum sampling time for phytoplasma detection. The specificity of primer pairs was determined using phytoplasmas detected in Australian grapevines and overseas reference grapevine phytoplasmas. DNA extracted from grapevine exhibiting a range of symptoms was screened for phytoplasmas. Two different phytoplasmas were amplified in the PCR and they were identified using specific PCR primers and by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA/23S rRNA spacer region. RFLP analysis confirmed that one phytoplasma was the AGY phytoplasma and the other phytoplasma was indistinguishable from the tomato big bud (TBB) phytoplasma. The AGY phytoplasma was associated with AGY symptoms but was occasionally detected in asymptomatic vines and those with late season leaf curl (LSLC) and restricted growth (RG) symptoms. The TBB phytoplasma was detected in some vines with LSLC symptoms and very occasionally in vines with AGY symptoms. A 'variant' of the AGY phytoplasma was also detected in vines showing typical AGY symptoms.Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
The content of VITIS is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Any user is free to share and adapt (remix, transform, build upon) the content as long as the original publication is attributed (authors, title, year, journal, issue, pages) and any changes to the original are clearly labeled. We do not prohibit or charge a fee for reuse of published content. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in any publication herein, even if not specifically indicated, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations. The submitting author agrees to these terms on behalf of all co-authors when submitting a manuscript. Please be aware that this license cannot be revoked. All authors retain the copyright on their work and are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements.