Identification of phytoplasma from mango trees showing sudden death phenomenon through molecular techniques.
Kazmi M. R., Farooq S. I., Fateh F. S., Shahid Hameed, Fauqia Fahmeed, Muhammad Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Botany 39 : 2153-2157
Abstract : Mango (Mangifera indien L.) is susceptible to a number of diseases. One of the important diseases is sudden death phenomenon which is a complex of biotic and abiotic factors. Several fungi have been isolated from mango tree showing sudden death. But some of its symptoms resemble with those caused by Phytoplasma. This study has been made for the detection of phytoplasma from trees showing sudden death. The detection process involved PCR and fluorescent microscopy of samples collected from various locations in Punjab. Out of 90 samples only one sample showed the presence of Phytoplasma. This shows that phytoplasma is not directly involved in the disease development and may be contributing as a predisposing factor.