Phytoplasma detection and identification:from 16S ribosomal gene to multiple gene identification

Phytoplasmas are bacteria lacking cell wall that are located in the phloem of plants and in the hemolymph of insect vectors. The phytoplasma classification scheme is based on PCR/RFLP analyses of 16S rDNA: a reliable tool for the differentiation that has become the most comprehensive and widely accepted classification system. On the other hand, the ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species description, recently under adoption, refers to 16S rRNA gene sequence with a threshold