Molecular characterization of phytoplasmas in Chilean grapevines.

Abstract

Extensive survey to detect and identify phytoplasmas associated with Chilean grapevines was performed from 2003 to 2005 sam-pling symptomatic or asymptomatic grapevine plants. Nested PCR amplification allow the detection of phytoplasmas in 28 out of 90 samples. RFLP analyses identified phytoplasmas as belonging to ribosomal subgroups 16SrI-B, 16SrI-C, 16SrVII-A and 16SrXII-A. Cloning and sequencing of selected strains allow to detect genetic variability in 16SrXII-A strains.