Molecular characterization of a ۱۶SrIX phytoplasma associated with Convolvulus glomeratus witches' broom and with an insect vector in Iran

During a survey in ۲۰۱۶, Convolvulus glomeratus showing symptoms resembling those caused by phytoplasmas were observed in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, Iran. These plants were examined for phytoplasma presence by nested-PCR assays using universal primer pair P۱/P۷ followed by R۱۶F۲n/R۱۶R۲. All the infected plants indicated positive results using universal primer pairs of P۱/P۷ followed by R۱۶F۲n/R۱۶R۲. Results of phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analyses of the ۱۶S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the phytoplasma associated with Convolvulus glomeratus witches' broom (CgWB) was a strain of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium'. The phytoplasma was successfully transmitted to healthy plants by leafhopper, Orosius albicinctus (Distant) which account as a vector of this phytoplasma. This is the first report on the presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ (phytoplasma group ۱۶SrIX-J) in C. glomeratus and its insect vector in Iran.