Molecular characterization of the phytoplasmas associated with toon trees and periwinkle in India

In November 2008 in Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh regions in India, toon trees and periwinkles were observed to have formed short internodes, small leaves and witches'-broom symptoms, typical of phytoplasma infection. The symptomatic toon and periwinkle samples were tested with universal PCR tests, and the 16S rRNA, rplB-rpsC, secA and secY genes were sequenced. The causal agents belonged to subgroup 16SrI-B of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris', based on 16S rDNA, ribosomal protein gene, secA and secY phylogenetic analysis.