New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
“Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense” in Coprosma robusta in New Zealand
Ross E. Beever
Landcare Research
Private Bag 92170
Auckland, New Zealand
Garry A. Wood
Mark T. Andersen
The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand
Private Bag 92169
Auckland, New Zealand
Shaun R. Pennycook
Landcare Research
Private Bag 92170
Auckland, New Zealand
Paul W. Sutherland
The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand
Private Bag 92169
Auckland, New Zealand
Richard L. S. Forster
Agrigenesis Biosciences Ltd
P.O. Box 50
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract A phytoplasma is reported from wild plants of Coprosma robusta, where it is associated with leaf reddening or bronzing and dieback of shoots and branches. It was detected by electron microscopy of phloem tissue, and by one-step and nested PCR using phytoplasma-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene. The sequence of the 16S product closely matches that of the Phormium yellow leaf phytoplasma and places the phytoplasma in the putative species “Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense”. It was transmitted by grafting to C. robusta and C. macrocarpa. The symptoms of the disease caused by the phytoplasma (Coprosma lethal decline) in clonally matched graft-inoculated versus ungrafted cuttings of C. robusta included interveinal chlorosis and abnormal leaf yellowing or reddening, slowing of growth, and shoot dieback. A field survey of C. robusta indicated that shoot dieback and abnormal leaf coloration are common throughout much of New Zealand. “Ca. P. australiense” was detected in some, but not all, symptomatic plants, indicating it may play a role in causing such symptoms in the field. It is proposed that infected C. robusta plants provide a reservoir of “Ca. P. australiense” that leads to infection of other hosts.
Keywords insect transmission; disease; 16S rRNA; phytoplasma
B03051; Received 25 November 2003; accepted 15 March 2004; Online publication date 21 September 2004
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2004, Vol. 42: 663-675
0028-825X/04/4204-0663 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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