title: Occurrence of Stolbur Phytoplasma Disease in Spreading Type Petunia hybrida Cultivars in Korea.
abstract: In January 2012, spreading type petunia cv. Wave Pink plants showing an abnormal growth habit of sprouting unusual multiple plantlets from the lateral buds were collected from a greenhouse in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The presence of phytoplasma was investigated using PCR with the primer pairs P1/P6, and R16F1/R1 for nested-PCR. In the nested PCR, 1,096 bp PCR products were obtained, and through sequencing 12 Pet-Stol isolates were identified. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA gene of the 12 Pet-Stol isolates with other phytoplasmas belonging to aster yellows or Stolbur showed that Pet-Stol isolates were members of Stolbur. The presence of phytoplasma in petunia was also confirmed by microscopic observation of the pathogens. In this study, Stolbur phytoplasma was identified from spreading type petunia cultivars by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene of phytoplasma and microscopic observation of phytoplasma bodies. This is the first report of Stolbur phytoplasma in commercial Petunia hybrida cultivars.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Bong Nam
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong Il
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Joa
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong San
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Suwon 440-706, Korea.
authors.forename: In Myeong
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Choi
keywords: Petunia hybrida; stolbur phytoplasma