First report of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium'-related strain (16SrIX-C) associated with phyllody disease of Reseda lutea

During a survey in 2019, Reseda lutea plants showing phyllody symptoms were observed in Fars province, Iran. Presence of phytoplasma in the symptomatic plants was confirmed by PCR amplifications of 16S rRNA and rp genes. Sequence analysis revealed that the phytoplasma associated with the phyllody affected plants belongs to subgroup 16SrIX-C of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' species. This is the first report of a 16SrIX-C phytoplasma strain...