Identification of phytoplasmas belonging to aster yellows ribosomal group (16SrI) in vegetables in Serbia

Leaf and root samples of carrot, and flower samples of broccoli with symptoms referable to phytoplasma presence were collected and tested for phytoplasma presence. Detection, identification and molecular characterization were performed on 16S rDNA, Tuf, rpS3, putative aminoacid kinase and putative DNA helicase phytoplasma genes. Analyses of all five DNA fragments showed that carrot was infected with aster yellows phytoplasmas belonging to ribosomal subgroups 16SrI-A and 16SrI-B and broccoli only with phytoplasmas belonging to ribosomal subgroup 16SrI-B.