title: Multigene characterization of a new 'CandidatusPhytoplasma rubi'-related strain associated with blackberry witches' broom.
abstract: A new phytoplasma was identified in naturally infected blackberry plants exhibiting witches' broom symptoms in Portugal. The 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that it is related to 'CandidatusPhytoplasma rubi' (16SrV-E ribosomal subgroup) and RFLP analysis revealed a unique profile followingMseI endonuclease digestion of R16F2n/R2 amplicons that distinguished it from the strains belonging to previously established 16SrV phytoplasma subgroups. Thein silicorestriction analyses confirmed that the phytoplasma strain from blackberry is different from all the other strains reported in group 16SrV. Phylogeny of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, sequence analyses of 16S-23S, tuf, rplV-rpsC, rplF-rplR, rplO-SecY-map and uvrB-degV genetic loci, as well as the variability of unique oligonucleotide sequences defined for 'CandidatusPhytoplasma rubi' confirmed the uniqueness of this phytoplasma strain from Portugal for which a novel ribosomal subgroup, 16SrV-I, is proposed. The representative of this new subgroup was named blackPort phytoplasma (Portuguese blackberry phytoplasma).
authors.affiliation: The Biology Centre of the CAS, v. v. i., Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, České Budeˇjovice, 370 05, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fránová
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Esmeraldina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: The Biology Centre of the CAS, v. v. i., Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, České Budeˇjovice, 370 05, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koloniuk
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Céu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mimoso
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, DipSA, Plant Pathology, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Contaldo
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, DipSA, Plant Pathology, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Samanta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paltrinieri
authors.affiliation: Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, DipSA, Plant Pathology, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Assunta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertaccini