Group 16SrXI phytoplasma strains, including subgroup 16SrXI-B and a new subgroup, 16SrXI-D, are associated with sugar cane white leaf.
Sugar cane white leaf (SCWL) is a serious disease caused by phytoplasmas. In this study, we performed nested PCR with phytoplasma universal primer pairs (P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2) for the 16S rRNA gene to detect SCWL phytoplasmas in 31 SCWL samples collected from Baoshan and Lincang, Yunnan, China. We cloned and sequenced the nested PCR products, revealing that the 16S rRNA gene sequences from 31 SCWL samples were all 1247 bp in length and shared more than 99 % nucleotide sequence similarity with the 16S rRNA gene sequences of SCWL phytoplasmas from various countries. Based on the reported 16S rRNA gene sequence data from SCWL isolates of various countries, we conducted phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analysis. In the resulting phylogenetic tree, all SCWL isolates clustered into two branches, with the Lincang and Baoshan SCWL phytoplasma isolates belonging to different branches. The virtual RFLP patterns show that phytoplasmas of the Lincang branch belong to subgroup 16SrXI-B. However, the virtual RFLP patterns revealed by HaeIII digestion of phytoplasmas of the Baoshan branch differed from those of subgroup 16SrXI-B. According to the results of phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analysis, we propose that the phytoplasmas of the Baoshan branch represent a new subgroup, 16SrXI-D. These findings suggest that SCWL is caused by phytoplasmas from group 16SrXI, including subgroup 16SrXI-B and a new subgroup, 16SrXI-D.
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Rong-Yue
RY
Zhang
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Wen-Feng
WF
Li
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Ying-Kun
YK
Huang
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Xiao-Yan
XY
Wang
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Hong-Li
HL
Shan
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Zhi-Ming
ZM
Luo
Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Science, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Genetic Improvement, Kaiyuan 661699, PR China.
Jiong
J
Yin
D002681:China; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D045582:Phytoplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D031786:Saccharum / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S