The first report of detection of a phytoplasma in olive trees in a botanic collection in Iran.
In a survey in 2005 some symptoms were observed on three olive trees in a collection of different olive cultivars in one of the central provinces in Iran (Yazd Province). Affected trees exhibited a variable range of symptoms: dwarfing, shoot proliferation, internode shortening, small leaves, leaf rolling, abortive buds, appearance of very small shoots, hypertrophied, and die- back. The possibility of association of a phytoplasma with the disease was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Total DNA was extracted from midribs of symptomatic and healthy olive plants using phytoplasma enriched procedure and tested for the presence of phytoplasma by nested-PCR using phytoplasmal- universal primers R16F2/R16R2, followed by primers fU5/rU3 which amplify 1200 and 880bp DNA fragments of 16SrDNA, respectively. PCR resulted in amplification of expected DNA fragments in symptomatic but not in healthy olive by both primer pairs. On the basis of symptoms and positive reaction in PCR, these plants can be infected with a phytoplasma. This is the first report of olive trees phytoplasmal disease in Iran. Identification of the agent and its comparison with other phytoplasmal isolates reported from other plants (hosts) in Iran are being studied. Based on the quarantine requirements, one of these trees was eradicated and two of them were transplanted in an isolated green house for further studies.
Ahangaran
A
A
Plant Protection Organization (PPO), Tehran, Iran. akbarahangaran@yahoo.com
Khezri
S
S
Habibi
M Koohi
MK
Alizadeh
A
A
Mohammadi
Gh Mosahebi
GM
D001901:Botany / Q000379:methods; D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D035264:Flowers / Q000382:microbiology; D007492:Iran; D031658:Olea / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons
D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal