Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Occurrence and incidence of phytoplasmas of the 16SrII-D subgroup on solanaceous and cucurbit crops in Egypt

  • Published:
European Journal of Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Symptoms reminiscent of phytoplasma infection were observed in four provinces (governorates) of Egypt in fields of eggplants, tomato plants and squash. Diseased plants exhibited stunting, leaf yellows and flower development abnormalities. PCR amplification of 16SrDNA with phytoplasma-specific primer pairs confirmed the phytoplasma presence. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that all phytoplasmas had the same partial 16SrDNA sequence, assigning them to the 16SrII-D phytoplasma subgroup. Disease incidence was about 1% among the 20 squash fields surveyed and equally varied from 4% to 15% in the 20 eggplant fields and in the 40 tomato fields inspected. The widespread distribution of this phytoplasma in annual solanaceous and cucurbit crops suggests a wider plant host range including wild plants that could act as reservoir and insist on the need for a insect vector survey. A finer genetic differentiation of Egyptian 16SrII-D phytoplasma strains from different geographical origins and different host plants should help to better trace such epidemics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Subhi, A. M., Al-Saady, N. A., Khan, A. J., & Deadman, M. L. (2011). First Report of a Group 16SrII Phytoplasma Associated with Witches'-Broom of Eggplant in Oman. Plant Disease, 95, 360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altschul, S. F., Madden, T. L., AA, Schaffer, Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Miller, W., & Lipman, D. J. (1997). Gapped BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Research, 25, 3389–3402.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amaral-Mello, A.P.O., Eckstein, B., Flôres, D., Kreyci, P.F., and Bedendo, I.P. (2010) Identification by computer-simulated RFLP of phytoplasmas associated with eggplant giant calyx representative of two subgroups, a lineage of 16SrIII-J and the new subgroup 16SrIII-U International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology In press.

  • Anfoka, G. H. A., Khalil, A. B., & Fattash, I. (2003). Detection and molecular characterization of a phytoplasma associated with big bud disease of tomatoes in Jordan. Journal of Phytopathology, 151, 223–227.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arocha, Y., Antesana, O., Montellano, E., Franco, P., Plata, G., & Jones, P. (2007). 'Candidatus Phytoplasma lycopersici', a phytoplasma associated with 'hoja de perejil' disease in Bolivia. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 57, 1704–1710.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blancard, D. (2009) Les maladies de la tomate: Quae Editions, France.

  • Boiteux, L. S., Lima, M. I., & Kitajima, E. W. (1994). Giant calyx - a disease of eggplant (Solanum melongena) associated with a mycoplasma-like organism in Brazil. Plant Pathology, 43, 751–754.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonfield, J. K., Smith, K. F., & Staden, R. (1995). A new DNA sequence assembly program. Nucleic Acids Research, 24, 4992–4999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choueiri, E., Salar, P., Jreijiri, F., El-Zammar, S., Massaad, R., Abdul-Nour, H., et al. (2007). Occurrence and distribution of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' associated with diseases of solanaceous crops in Lebanon. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 118, 411–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cousin, M. T., & Abadie, M. (1982). Action des mycoplasmes sur l’anthère. Etude en microscopies photonique et électronique. Revue de Cytologie, de Biologie Végétale et de Botanique, 5, 41–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cousin, M. T., Dafalla, G., Demazeau, E., Theveu, E., & Grosclaude, J. (1989). In situ detection of MLOs for Solanaceae stolbur and faba bean phyllody by indirect immunofluorescence. Journal of Phytopathology, 124, 71–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. I., Schneider, B., & Gibb, K. (1997). Detection and differentiation of phytoplasmas in Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 48, 535–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, S. J., & Hiruki, C. (1991). Amplification of 16S ribosomal-RNA genes from culturable and nonculturable mollicutes. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 14, 53–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Banna, M. Om-Hashem & El-Deep, S.H. (2007). Phytoplasma associated with Mango malformation disease in Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Phytopathology, 35, 141–153.

  • Firrao, G., Andersen, M., Bertaccini, A., Boudon Padieu, E., Bové, J. M., Daire, X., et al. (2004). 'Candidatus Phytoplasma', a taxon for the wall-less, non-helical prokaryotes that colonize plant phloem and insects. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 54, 1243–1255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garnier, M. (2000). The stolbur phytoplasma: an ubiquitous agent. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie d'Agriculture de France, 86, 27–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundersen, D. E., & Lee, I.-M. (1996). Ultrasensitive detection of phytoplasmas by nested-PCR assays using two universal primer pairs. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 35, 114–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundersen, D. E., Lee, I. M., Rehner, S. A., Davis, R. E., & Kingsbury, D. T. (1994). Phylogeny of mycoplasmalike organisms (phytoplasmas): a basis for their classification. Journal of Bacteriology, 176, 5244–5254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hiruki, C., & Wang, K. (2004). Clover proliferation phytoplasma: ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 54, 1349–1353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarausch, W., Jarausch-Wehrheim, B., Danet, J. L., Broquaire, J. M., Dosba, F., Saillard, C., & Garnier, M. (2001). Detection and identification of European stone fruit yellows and other phytoplasmas in wild plants in the surroundings of apricot chlorotic leaf roll-affected orchards in southern France. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 107, 209–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, P.L., Arocha, Y., and Dider, S.Z. (2009) First report of a 16SrI, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ isolate affecting eggplant and Mikania sp. in Bangladesh. New Disease Reports 18: 52.

  • Khan, A. J., Botti, S., Al-Subhi, A. M., Gundersen-Rindal, D. E., & Bertaccini, A. F. (2002). Molecular identification of a new phytoplasma associated with alfalfa witches'-broom in Oman. Phytopathology, 92, 1038–1047.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, I. M., & Davis, R. E. (1992). Mycoplasmas which infect plants and insects. In J. Maniloff, R.N. McElhaney, L.R. Finch & J.B. Baseman (Eds.), Mycoplasmas: Molecular Biology and Pathogenesis (pp. 379–390). American Society of Microbiology: Washington, D.C.

  • Lee, L. M., Hammond, R. W., Davis, R. E., & Gundersen, D. E. (1993). Universal amplification and analysis of pathogen 16S rDNA for classification and identification of mycoplasmalike organisms. Phytopathology, 83, 834–842.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, I. M., Davis, R. E., & Gundersen-Rindal, D. E. (2000). Phytoplasma: phytopathogenic mollicutes. Annual Review of Microbiology, 54, 221–255.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, I. M., Zhao, Y., Davis, R. E., Wei, W., & Martini, M. (2007). Prospects of DNA-based systems for differenciation and classification of phytoplasmas. Bulletin of Insectology, 60, 239–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maixner, M., Ahrens, U., & Seemuller, E. (1995). Detection of the German grapevine yellows (Vergilbungskrankheit) MLO in grapevine, alternative hosts and a vector by a specific PCR procedure. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 101, 241–250.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCoy, R. E., Caudwell, A., Chang, C. J., Chen, T. A., Chiykowski, L. N., Cousin, M. T., et al. (1989). Plant diseases associated with mycoplasma-like organisms. In R. F. Whitcomb & J. G. Tully (Eds.), The Mycoplasmas (pp. 545–640). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, D. K. (1988). Little leaf disease of eggplant. In K. Maramorosch & S. P. Raychaudhuri (Eds.), Mycoplasma disease of crops (pp. 343–348). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Montano, H. G., Davis, R. E., Dally, E. L., Pimentel, J. P., & Brioso, P. S. T. (2000). Identification and phylogenetic analysis of a new phytoplasma from diseased chayote in Brazil. Plant Disease, 84, 429–436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montano, H. G., Davis, R. E., Dally, E. L., Hogenhout, S., Pimentel, J. P., & Brioso, P. S. (2001). 'Candidatus Phytoplasma brasiliense', a new phytoplasma taxon associated with hibiscus witches' broom disease. International Journal of Systematic & Evolutionary Microbiology, 51, 1109–1118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montano, H. G., Brioso, P. S. T., Pimentel, J. P., Figueiredo, D. V., & Cunha, J. O. (2006). Cucurbita moschata, new phytoplasma host in Brazil. Journal of Plant Pathology, 88, 226–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montano, H. G., Paulo, S. T. B., Roberta, C. P., & Joao, P. P. (2007). Sicana odorifera (Cucurbitaceae) a new phytoplasma host. Bulletin of Insectology, 60, 287–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omar, A. F., Emeran, A. A., & Abass, J. M. (2008). Detection of Phytoplasma associated with periwinkle virescence in Egypt. Plant Pathology Journal, 7, 92–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, T., Scott, J., and Pethybridge, S.J. (2011) First Report of a 16SrII-D Subgroup Phytoplasma Associated with Pale Purple Coneflower Witchs’-Broom Disease in Australia. Plant Disease in press.

  • Pracros, P., Renaudin, J., Eveillard, S., Mouras, A., & Hernould, M. (2006). Tomato flower abnormalities induced by stolbur phytoplasma infection are associated with changes of expression of floral development genes. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 19, 62–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed, E. M., Roux, J., & Cousin, M. T. (1993). Studies of polyclonal antibodies for the detection of MLOs associated with faba bean (Vicia faba L) using different Elisa methods and dot-blot. Journal of Phytopathology-Phytopathologische Zeitschrift, 137, 33–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed, E., Seemüller, E., Schneider, B., Saillard, C., Blanchard, B., Bertheau, Y., & Cousin, M. T. (1994). Molecular-cloning, detection of chromosomal DNA of the mycoplasmalike organism (MLO) associated with faba bean (Vicia-faba L) phyllody by southern blot hybridization and the polymerase chain-reaction (PCR). Journal of Phytopathology-Phytopathologische Zeitschrift, 142, 97–106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B., Seemüller, E., Smart, C. D., & Kirkpatrick, B. C. (1995a). Phylogenetic classification of plant pathogenic mycoplasmalike organisms or phytoplasmas. In S. Razin & J. G. Tully (Eds.), Molecular and diagnostic procedures in mycoplasmology (pp. 369–380). San Diego, CA: Academic.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B., Cousins, M. T., Klinkong, S., & Seemüller, E. (1995b). Taxonomic Relatedness and Phylogenetic Positions of Phytoplasmas Associated with Diseases of Faba Bean, Sunnhemp, Sesame, Soybean, and Eggplant. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 102, 225–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B., Padovan, A., De la Rue, S., Eichner, R., Davis, R., Bernuetz, A., & Gibb, K. (1999). Detection and differentiation of phytoplasmas in Australia: an update. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 50, 333–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seemüller, E., Schneider, B., Mäurer, R., Ahrens, U., Daire, X., Kison, H., et al. (1994). Phylogenetic classification of phytopathogenic mollicutes by sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, 44, 440–446.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sertkaya, G., Martini, M., Musetti, R., & Osler, R. (2007). Detection and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas infecting sesame and solanaceous crops in Turkey. Bulletin of Insectology, 60, 141–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, M. E., Kirkpatrick, B. C., & Golino, D. A. (1993). The beet leafhopper-transmitted virescence agent causes tomato big bud disease in California. Plant Disease, 77, 290–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siddique, A. B. M., Agrawal, G. K., Alam, N., & Krishna Reddy, M. (2001). Electron microscopy and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas associated with little leaf disease of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) in Bangladesh. Journal of Phytopathology, 149, 237–244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streten, C., Conde, B., Herrington, M., Moulden, J., & Gibb, K. (2005). “Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense” is associated with pumpkin yellow leaf curl disease in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern territory. Australian Plant Pathology, 34, 103–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamura, K., Dudley, J., Nei, M., & Kumar, S. (2007). MEGA4: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) software version 4.0. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 24, 1596–1599.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. D., Higgins, D. G., & Gibson, T. J. (1994). CLUSTAL W: improving the sensitivity of progressive multiple sequence alignment through sequence weighting, position-specific gap penalties and weight matrix choice. Nucleic Acids Research, 22, 4673–4680.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, W., Davis, R. E., Lee, I. M., & Zhao, Y. (2007). Computer simulated RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA genes: identification of ten new phytoplasma groups. International Journal of Systematic & Evolutionary Microbiology, 57, 1855–1867.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weintraub, P. G., & Beanland, L. (2006). Insect vectors of phytoplasmas. Annual Review of Entomology, 51, 91–111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White, D. T., Billington, S. J., Walsh, K. B., & Scott, P. T. (1997). DNA sequence analysis supports the association of phytoplasmas with papaya (Carica papaya) dieback, yellow crinkle and mosaic. Australasian Plant Pathology, 26, 28–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, D. T., Blackall, L. L., Scott, P. T., & Walsh, K. B. (1998). Phylogenetic positions of phytoplasmas associated with dieback, yellow crinkle and mosaic diseases of papaya, and their proposed inclusion in 'Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense' and a new taxon', Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia'. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, 48, 941–951.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zreik, L., Carle, P., Bové, J. M., & Garnier, M. (1995). Characterization of the mycoplasmalike organism associated with witches-broom disease of lime and proposition of a Candidatus taxon for the organism, Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, 45, 449–453.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the bilateral grant IMHOTEP number 20735PA from the Egyptian and French ministries of foreign affairs. We gratefully acknowledge Prof. Dr. Al-Shafie Ibrahim Al-shafie and Mr. Salem Hamdem for helping during surveys and Miss Shimaa A. Khalaf for assistance with DNA extraction.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of plant pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt

    Ayman F. Omar

  2. INRA, UMR1332, 71 avenue Edouard Bourlaux, BP81, F-33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Xavier Foissac

  3. University of Bordeaux 2, UMR1332, 71 avenue Edouard Bourlaux, BP81, F-33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Xavier Foissac

Authors
  1. Ayman F. Omar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xavier Foissac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayman F. Omar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Omar, A.F., Foissac, X. Occurrence and incidence of phytoplasmas of the 16SrII-D subgroup on solanaceous and cucurbit crops in Egypt. Eur J Plant Pathol 133, 353–360 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-011-9908-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-011-9908-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation