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This study determined the tuf gene sequence of the phytoplasma specific to paulownia witches’-broom from Nanyang, China (hereby designated PaWB-Ny). The PaWB-Ny tuf gene was 1185 nucleotides in length and confirmed that the phytoplasma belongs to subgroup 16SrI-D of aster yellows. Three characteristic GTP-binding protein motifs were identified based on the peptide deduced from the tuf gene sequence. Results suggested that the elongation factor EF-Tu was localized in the cytoplasm and lacked hydrophobic transmembrane domains. Antibodies against PaWB-Ny EF-Tu were prepared by rabbit immunization with glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged EF-Tu fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli. EF-Tu exhibited a molecular weight of ∼43 kDa and was detected in PaWB-infected paulownia plants by western blot analysis. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and dot blotting analyses were performed with freezing and thawing treatments during antigen preparation. Dilution of extracts to an appropriate scale significantly reduced non-specific reactions. The resultant PaWB EF-Tu antibody reacted with antigens from plants infected with periwinkle virescence and chinaberry tree witches’-broom phytoplasmas, but not those infected with jujube witches’-broom or bishopwood witches’-broom phytoplasma. The EF-Tu was characteristically localized within the phytoplasmal cytoplasm of infected plant phloem tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article on stem scab symptoms in pomegranate trees in China is presented

The article discusses the Beet mosaic virus (BtMV) which infects vegetables, particularly lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in China. Accordingly, BtMV is widespread and mainly infects the plants belonging to the Chenopodiaceae, Solanaceae and Fabaceae. In 2004 and 2006, a series of field surveys were conducted to investigate such virus in Shandong Province, China. It mentions that lactuca sativa has shown symptoms of mosaic, puckering and severe stunting with an incidence of 30-40 %. Several tests were conducted and results indicate that the virus is BtMV.