Genetic differentiation of the 16SrXXII-B phytoplasmas in Ghana based on the leucyl tRNA synthetase gene

The Cape St. Paul wilt disease is a lethal yellowing type disease of coconut in Ghana. It is associate with the presence of a phytoplasma belonging to the 16SrXXII-B subgroup also referred to as ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’-related strain. A leucyl tRNA gene based assay was used to discriminate the two strains of the phytoplasma detected in Ghana since sequences from the 16S rRNA gene were unable to reveal these genetic differences in the phytoplasmas.