Potential novel ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pini’-related strain associated with coconut lethal yellowing in Mozambique Bila Joao1,2,*, Mondjana Ana2, Samils Berit1, Högberg Nils1 1Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Uppsala, Sweden 2Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Faculdade de Agronomia e Engenharia Florestal, Departamento Protecção Vegetal, Maputo, Mozambique *Corresponding author e-mail: João Bila (jbilay@gmail.com)
Online published on 2 January, 2015. Abstract In this study, phytoplasmas associated with coconut lethal yellowing disease in Mozambique were characterized. For phylogenetic analysis the 16S rRNA genes were sequenced. Apart from ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’ 16SrXXII-A, phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of a double infection of ‘Ca. P. palmicola’ and a ‘Ca. P. pini’-related phytoplasmas. The second strain potentially represents a novel ‘Candidatus species’ and is closely related to ‘Ca. P. pini’. Top Keywords Mozambique, coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma, ‘Ca. P. palmicola’, ‘Ca. P. pini’. Top |