1. Differentiation of the Flavescence dorée phytoplasma genetic clusters by multiplex real-time PCR assay targeting the map gene.
- Author
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Plavec, Jelena and Music, Martina Seruga
- Subjects
GENE mapping ,GENE targeting ,GENETIC variation ,FLUORESCENT dyes ,INFECTIOUS disease transmission ,GRAPE diseases & pests ,POLYMERASE chain reaction ,VITICULTURE - Abstract
Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp) is a great threat to grapevine cultivation in Europe. Severe symptoms induced by FDp in grapevine plants, along with side effects of insecticide treatments used to control disease spread, bring considerable economic and environmental toll and challenge the sustainability of European viticulture. Previous research of map gene sequences identified three genetic clusters of FDp – Map-FD1, -FD2 and -FD3. Each cluster is affiliated with different geographical distribution and characterized by different genetic variability and epidemiological properties. Those clusters are identified through laborious and time consuming nested PCR-RFLP or sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Here, a multiplex real-time PCR assay was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of the three FDp genetic clusters by using a single primer pair and three distinct BHQ probes labelled with different fluorescent dyes. The assay was evaluated using FDp reference strains, phytoplasma strains belonging to different phytoplasma groups and field collected FDp isolates. The assay was found to be highly sensitive and reliably detected and discriminated all three Map-FD genetic clusters within the 16Sr-V phytoplasma group. Early detection of Map-FD genetic clusters and thus phytoplasma genotypes which are less likely to cause epidemic outbreaks due to different transmission pathways, can significantly accelerate FDp epidemiological studies and facilitate the efforts to control the FD disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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