Detection and identification of aster yellows and stolbur phytoplasmas in various crops in Spain.

In this study 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' (subgroups 16SrI-B) and stolbur phytoplasma (subgroup 16SrXII-A) were sporadically identified in several horticultural crops in Spain by nested-PCR and RFLP analyses. One parsnip sample was infected with stolbur, and 'Ca. P. asteris' was detected in lettuce and chicory plants. However, these two phytoplasmas were able to infect also carrot, celery and radish. This work extends the knowledge of phytoplasma diversity affecting horticultural crops in Spain.