title: Molecular characterization of a phytoplasma affiliated with the 16SrVII group representative of the novel 16SrVII-F subgroup.
abstract: Vernonia brasiliana is a wild perennial shrub frequently found in pasture areas. Plants of this species have been observed displaying typical symptoms induced by phytoplasmas, which were characterized by shoot proliferation, deformed leaves and leaf chlorosis. The present study confirmed the presence of phytoplasmas in association with affected plants. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, computer-simulated RFLP analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed that one of the phytoplasmas identified was representative of novel subgroup. The sequence identity scores between the novel strain and those of previously described 'CandidatusPhytoplasma fraxini'-related strains was 99 %, while similarity coefficient values were lower than 0.97. These findings provide support to delineate the phytoplasma found in vernonia plants as a reference phytoplasma for a novel subgroup designated 16SrVII-F. This representative of the novel subgroup was denominated VbSP phytoplasma (Vernonia brasiliana Shoot Proliferation; GenBank KX342018). The results of the present study revealed V. brasiliana to be a host of phytoplasmas, evidenced a novel phytoplasma associated with phytoplasmal disease in Brazil and extended the knowledge of the genetic diversity existing within the 16SrVII group.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaqueline Manzatti
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: da Silva Fugita
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitopatologia e Nematologia, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thays Benites Camargo
authors.initials: TBC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitopatologia e Nematologia, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ticyana Carone
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Banzato
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitopatologia e Nematologia, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elliot Watanabe
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kitajima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliezer Rodrigues
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: da Souto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fitopatologia e Nematologia, ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias, 11, 13418-900, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivan Paulo
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Bedendo
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001938:Brazil; 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; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D035741:Vernonia / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S