Detection and Identification of Two Phytoplasmas (16<scp>S</scp>r<scp>III</scp>‐<scp>B</scp> and 16<scp>S</scp>r<scp>XII</scp>‐<scp>A</scp>) From Alfalfa (<i><scp>M</scp>edicago sativa</i>) in <scp>S</scp>erbia

Abstract

Abstract Plants of alfalfa ( M edicago sativa ) exhibiting general stunting, proliferation and phyllody associated with leaf yellowing and reddening were observed in three localities of C entral S erbia. Phytoplasma strains belonging to 16 S rIII‐ B and 16 S r XII ‐ A groups were detected and identified by RFLP and sequence analysis of 16 S r DNA . Stolbur phytoplasma tuf gene RFLP analysis showed the presence of the T uf AY ‐b‐type phytoplasma subgroup in 80% of symptomatic samples. This is the first report of 16 S r III ‐ B and 16 S r XII ‐ A phytoplasma groups affecting alfalfa in S erbia.