Identification and Molecular Characterization of Multiple Phytoplasma Infection in Spartium Junceum and Cytisus Scoparius

Two genera of the Fabaceae family showed phytoplasma symptoms in Germany and in Italy. Spartium junceum showing typical SpaWB symptoms was observed in the city of Ercolano (Campania region, Italy) and a similar symptomatology was observed in a group of shrubs of Cytisus scoparius growing in Dahlem botanical garden in Berlin (Germany). Symptomatic and asymptomatic samples were collected in both cases and analysed for phytoplasma presence by nested-PCR assays followed by RFLP analyses. All symptomatic samples produced amplicons of the expected lengths and no product was amplified from asymptomatic plants. Identification and classification of phytoplasmas allowed to detect ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma spartii’ subgroup 16SrX-D and ‘Ca. P. asteris’ subgroup 16SrI-B in both genera. In some of the samples of C. scoparius also stolbur phytoplasmas were identified.