Molecular identification of Jujube witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrV) associated with witches'-broom disease of Ziziphus oenoplia in India

Severe witches’-broom disease of Ziziphus oenoplia was observed with significant disease incidence in Bhopal, India, during 2019. Phytoplasma was detected from symptomatic leaf samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene specific primers which revealed positive amplification of expected size ~1.2 kb DNA band. The positive amplicons of the phytoplasma 16S rRNA (1.2 kb) were sequence and sequenced data was submitted in GenBank database (Accession no. MK975463 and MK975462). On the basis of highest 99% sequence identities, closest phylogenetic relationships and In silico of the under study both the phytoplasma isolates associated with witches'-broom disease of Ziziphus oenoplia identified as a species of Jujube witches'-broom phytoplasma as a member of Elm yellows group (16SrV). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the association of Jujube witches'-broom phytoplasma species of Elm yellows group (16SrV) with witches'-broom disease of Z. oenoplia in India.