Echinacea purpurea – a host of 16SrXII-A phytoplasma group in Serbia

Abstract

During a survey carried out from 2005 to 2010, reddening, stunting and proliferation of axillary shoots or witches’ broom symptoms were observed on Echinacea purpurea in Pancevo and Indjija, Serbia. The association of phytoplasma with these symptoms has been detected by electron microscopic observations and PCR followed by nested PCR using phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene specific primers. Further, 16SrXII-A group (stolbur) phytoplasmas were identified by RFLP analysis using TruI, KpnI and AluI restriction endonucleases.