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Detection and Identification of Phytoplasmas in the 16SrIV-A, -B, and -D Subgroups in Palms in Tabasco, Mexico
Eder Ramos Hernández1, Julia M Lesher Gordillo2, Carlos Oropeza Salín3
1Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental Huimanguillo, 86400, Huimanguillo, Tabasco, México.
Abstract:
The 16SrIV-A phytoplasmas are associated with the devastating disease lethal yellowing (LY) of palms. In Tabasco (Mexico), the death of Cocos nucifera, Adonidia merrillii, and Attalea butyracea palms have been suspected to be associated with LY based on symptomatology. Samples from the trunk of both symptomatic and nonsymptomatic palms were collected in three different environments: two species of palms within a rural zone and the other within an urban zone. DNA was extracted to perform a nested PCR with phytoplasma primers P1/P7-LY16SF/R16R2. A 1,345-bp fragment was amplified from the DNA extracted from each of the 29 LY-symptomatic palms sampled. Phytoplasma identification was achieved by amplicon sequencing and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Three 16SrIV phytoplasma subgroups were detected: 16SrIV-A in C. nucifera, 16SrIV-B in A. merrillii, and 16SrIV-D in C. nucifera, A. merrillii, and A. butyracea. Phylogenetic analysis showed also that the three phytoplasma strains found in the palm species clustered with phytoplasmas reported in the literature in the three subgroups identified. This is the first report of phytoplasmas associated with these palm species in Tabasco.
Insights
Lethal yellowing (LY) disease in Tabasco, Mexico, is linked to 16SrIV phytoplasmas. This study identifies three specific phytoplasma subgroups (16SrIV-A, -B, and -D) in affected coconut, adonidia, and attalea palms.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Phytoplasmology
Background:
- Lethal yellowing (LY) is a devastating palm disease caused by 16SrIV phytoplasmas.
- Palm deaths in Tabasco, Mexico, exhibiting LY symptoms prompted investigation.
- Previous research had not identified phytoplasmas in these specific palm species in this region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize phytoplasmas associated with symptomatic palms in Tabasco, Mexico.
- To determine the specific 16SrIV phytoplasma subgroups present in affected palm species.
- To establish the phytoplasma diversity within different environmental zones.
Main Methods:
- Collection of trunk samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic palms (Cocos nucifera, Adonidia merrillii, Attalea butyracea).
- DNA extraction followed by nested PCR amplification using phytoplasma-specific primers (P1/P7-LY16SF/R16R2).
- Amplicon sequencing and virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (vRFLP) for phytoplasma identification and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- A 1,345-bp fragment was successfully amplified from all 29 symptomatic palms.
- Three 16SrIV phytoplasma subgroups were identified: 16SrIV-A in C. nucifera, 16SrIV-B in A. merrillii, and 16SrIV-D in C. nucifera, A. merrillii, and A. butyracea.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the clustering of identified strains with known phytoplasmas within these subgroups.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first report of phytoplasmas associated with C. nucifera, A. merrillii, and A. butyracea in Tabasco.
- The findings confirm the presence of lethal yellowing phytoplasmas and delineate specific subgroup associations with palm species in the region.
- The identified phytoplasma subgroups (16SrIV-A, -B, -D) are implicated in palm diseases in Tabasco, Mexico.
