High diversity, expanding populations and purifying selection in phytoplasmas causing coconut lethal yellowing in Mozambique

Abstract

In this study, the putative phytoplasma species causing coconut lethal yellowing disease in Mozambique and Tanzania were characterized. The 16S rRNA and secA genes were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Mozambican coconut phytoplasmas belong to three different types: Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola' 16SrXXII-A, a second strain that was previously isolated in Tanzania and Kenya (16SrIV-C), and a third strain that was different from all known lethal yellowing phytoplasma species. The third strain potentially represents a novel species and is closely related to pine phytoplasma. Co-infection with Ca. Phytoplasma pini'-related and Ca. Phytoplasma palmicola' 16SrXXII-A strains was observed. Furthermore, sequence variation in Ca. Phytoplasma palmicola' at the population level was consistent with purifying selection and population expansion.

Keywords

"Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola'; coconut lethal yellowing phytoplasma; coconut palm (Cocos nucifera); Mozambique; phylogeny; population biology

Published in

Plant Pathology
2015, Volume: 64, number: 3, pages: 597-604
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU Authors

• Bila, Joao

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM)

• Samils, Berit

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Högberg, Nils

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology
Other Agricultural Sciences not elsewhere specified


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.12306

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/72421