It has high sensitivity compared to single RT-PCR. Moreover, field samples in China can be tested by this method for virus

detection. Our results show that one-step multiplex RT-PCR is a high-throughput, specific, buy INK 128 sensitive method for tobacco virus detection. “
“Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosais) plants with yellowing symptoms suggestive of a phytoplasma disease were observed in Shandong Peninsula, China. Typical phytoplasma bodies were detected in the phloem tissue using transmission electron microscopy. The association of a phytoplasma with the disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using phytoplasma universal primer pair R16mF2/R16mR1 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 as nested PCR primer pair. The sequence analysis indicated that the phytoplasma associated with tree peony yellows (TPY) was an isolate

of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ belonging to the stolbur (16SrXII) group. This is the first report of a phytoplasma associated with tree peony. “
“Pistachio is an important crop in Iran, which is a major producer and exporter of pistachio nuts. The occurrence of a new disease of pistachio trees, characterized by the development of severe witches’ broom, stunted growth and leaf AZD1208 rosetting, was observed in Ghazvin Province. A phytoplasma was detected in infected trees by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of rRNA operon sequences. Nested PCR with primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2 was used for specific detection of the phytoplasma in infected trees.

To determine its taxonomy, the random fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern and sequence analysis of the amplified rRNA gene were studied. Sequencing of the amplified products of the phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene indicated that pistachio witches’ broom (PWB) phytoplasma is in a separate 16S rRNA group of phytoplasmas (with sequence homology 97% in Blast search). The unique properties of the DNA of the PWB phytoplasma indicate that Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase it is a representative of a new taxon. “
“Symptoms of unknown aetiology on Rhododendron hybridum cv. Cunningham’s White were observed in the Czech Republic in 2010. The infected plant had malformed leaves, with irregular shaped edges, mosaic, leaf tip necrosis and multiple axillary shoots with smaller leaves. Transmission electron microscopy showed phytoplasma-like bodies in phloem cells of the symptomatic plant. Phytoplasma presence was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using phytoplasma-specific, universal and group-specific primer pairs. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S rDNA enabled classification of the detected phytoplasma into the aster yellows subgroup I-C. Sequence analysis of the 16S-23S ribosomal operon of the amplified phytoplasma genome from the infected rhododendron plant (1724 bp) confirmed the closest relationship with the Czech Echinacea purpurea phyllody phytoplasma.