<div style="text-align: justify;">Chickpea plants showing phytoplasma symptoms were observed in the research plots at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. The symptoms included phyllody, pale green leaves, bushy appearance and excessive axillary proliferation. The causal agent of the phyllody disease was identified based on symptoms, amplification of 16S rDNA of the phytoplasma by nested PCR with primers P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 and 1,800 bp and 1,200 bp size products were amplified in first round PCR and nested-PCR respectively. The PCR product was sequenced and compared with the reference phytoplasma sequences collected from the database (NCBI). 16S rDNA sequences of Dharwad chickpea phytoplasma shared the highest nucleotide identity of (&gt;98%) with Periwinkle phyllody16SrII-E (EU096500). This study indicated the association of &lsquo;Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia&rsquo; the 16SrII-E group infecting chickpea from Northern Karnataka.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Molecular characterization of <em>Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia</em> isolate infecting chickpea (<em>Cicer arietinum</em>) in Dharwad, Karnataka</div>

<div style="text-align:justify"><strong>Background:</strong> Alfalfa, <em>Medicago sativa</em> L. is the most important and widely grown leguminous fodder crop in temperate and tropical regions of the world. The production of alfalfa crop is limited by several biotic stresses, among which witches&rsquo; broom disease (AWB) was reported to cause significant economic losses.<br />
<br />
<strong>Methods: </strong>The phytoplasma infected alfalfa plants were collected from a central research farm, ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi, U.P. Qualitative parameters such as crude protein content, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre were estimated in diseased and healthy plants. Phytoplasma universal primer (P1/P7) and nested primer (R16mF2/R16mR1) were used for the molecular characterization of AWB infected plants and phytoplasma infected, <em>Parthenium hysterophorus</em>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Result: </strong>The incidence of AWB disease ranged from 8-10%. The quantitative analysis of disease plants showed reduced plant height (-35%), fresh weight (-46.89%) and dry weight (-50.08%) compared to healthy plants. The diseased plant recorded low crude protein content (-21.38%) and higher dry matter content (+0.68%), acid detergent fibre (+33.72%) and neutral detergent fibre (+13.06%). The association of phytoplasma in diseased alfalfa and parthenium samples was confirmed by using P1/P7 and R16mF2/R16mR1 primer pair and Blastn analysis shared 99.6-100% similarity with &lsquo;<em>Candidatus</em> Phytoplasma australasia&rsquo; belongs to the 16Sr group II-D.</div>


<p><em>Candidatus</em> Phytoplasma Australasia Associated with Alfalfa Witches&rsquo; Broom: Symptomatology, Quantitative Loss, Qualitative Loss and Molecular Characterization</p>


Molecular characterization of Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia isolate infecting chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Dharwad, Karnataka

Candidatus Phytoplasma Australasia Associated with Alfalfa Witches’ Broom: Symptomatology, Quantitative Loss, Qualitative Loss and Molecular Characterization