Browsing by Autor "F. Lazcano"

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First report of a 16SrIII phytoplasma (X‐disease group) affecting bell pepper, strawberry (frutilla), Schinus molle and Arracacia xanthorrhiza in Cochabamba, Bolivia
(Wiley, 2010) Y. Arocha; G. Plata; Javier Franco; Gladys Main; Silene Veramendi; F. Lazcano; José L. Crespo; V. Lino; Claudene Menezes Atayde Calderon; Rodolfo Plana Llerena
Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) and strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis, ‘frutilla’ in Spanish) are crops grown for local consumption in plots at the PROINPA Foundation, Cochabamba. Schinus molle (family Anacardiaceae, known locally as ‘molle’) is an ornamental tree widely distributed in Cochabamba urban areas, including PROINPA surroundings. Recently, symptoms of leaf size reduction and yellowing, proliferation, and shortening of internodes were observed in S. molle trees. Strawberry plants displayed rosette formation and small fruits, while bell pepper showed leaf size reduction and shortening of internodes. Symptoms were present in about 30% of strawberry and bell pepper plots, and more than 50% of the S. molle trees surrounding PROINPA exhibited symptoms. Arracacia xanthorrhiza, a nearby-grown vegetable in the celery family (Apiaceae), displayed leaf yellowing and little leaf. Symptom-bearing plants of bell pepper (4), S. molle (5), strawberry (4) and A. xanthorrhiza (4) were collected, as well as one symptomless plant of each plant species. Total DNA from leaf midribs was extracted and indexed by a nested PCR with universal 16S rRNA primers R16mF2/R1 and fU5/rU3. PCR amplicons (approximately 880 bp) were produced for almost all symptom-bearing plants, except for one plant of strawberry and one plant of A. xanthorrhiza. Symptomless plants did not yield amplicons. PCR amplicons were purified (Wizard, Promega), cloned (pGEMT-Easy Vector, Promega) and sequenced (http://www.dnaseq.co.uk). The 16S rRNA sequences of phytoplasmas detected in bell pepper (GenBank Accession No. FJ207456), strawberry (FJ207455), S. molle (FJ207454) and A. xanthorrhiza (FJ207451) showed the highest identity of 99% with the members of phytoplasma group 16SrIII (X-disease). A 16SrIII phytoplasma has been previously reported in Bolivia affecting chinaberry (Melia azadarach) trees (Harrison et al., 2003), but this is the first report of phytoplasmas belonging to group 16SrIII in bell pepper, strawberry, S. molle, and A. xanthorrhiza in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Work in the UK was done under Defra licence No. PHF 174D/5185 (08/2005). Rothamsted Research receives grants from BBSRC, UK.
Occurrence of ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ (16SrII group) in Bolivia
(Wiley, 2010) Y. Arocha; G. Plata; Javier Franco; Gladys Main; Silene Veramendi; F. Lazcano; José L. Crespo; V. Lino; Claudia Vargas Calderón; R. E. Espino Llerena
During a survey for phytoplasma at the PROINPA Foundation, Cochabamba, Bolivia in June 2008, plants of podocarpus (Podocarpus macrophyllus) showed symptoms of shortened internodes, leaf size reduction and proliferation compared to healthy ones, while those of rose (Rosa sp.) exhibited little leaf and yellowing. Both podocarpus and rose are widely distributed ornamental plants in the urban area of Cochabamba, and symptoms were observed in at least 20% of plants of each species surveyed at PROINPA. In addition, symptoms of leaf deformation, crinkling, and curling were displayed by wild plants of tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa) growing nearby. Three plants with symptoms and one symptomless plant respectively of each species were collected. A nested PCR with universal 16S rRNA gene primers R16mF2/R1 and fU5/rU3 was carried out from total DNAs extracted from collected plant material. All plants with symptoms yielded PCR amplicons (∼880 bp), whilst the symptomless plants did not. PCR products were purified (Wizard, Promega), cloned (pGEM T-Easy Vector, Promega) and sequenced (http: http://www.dnaseq.co.uk). A representative sequence was deposited in GenBank for podocarpus (FJ207457), rose (FJ207453) and tomatillo (FJ207452). BLAST comparisons indicated that the 16S rDNA sequences of these phytoplasmas showed the highest identity (99%) with those of phytoplasma members of group 16SrII, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’. A disease in tomatillo was recently associated with a ‘Ca. Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain in Mexico (Santos-Cervantes et al., 2007). However, no phytoplasmas have been reported associated with diseases in podocarpus or rose in the region. This is the first report of phytoplasmas of group 16SrII in Bolivia and its association with diseases in podocarpus, tomatillo and rose plants. Work in the UK was done under Defra licence No. PHF 174D/5185(08/2005). Rothamsted Research receives grants from BBSRC, UK.