Phytoplasmas identification, classification and their effects on crop productivity.

Phytoplasma associated diseases are spread worldwide very often inducing severe epidemic outbreaks of economic as well as quarantine importance. These plant pathogens are prokaryotes lacking the cell wall and belonging to the Mollicutes class; they were not yet cultivated in axenic culture therefore Koch postulates are only sometimes fulfilled by using alternative tools, such as graft or insect transmission. The design of specific primers for phytoplasma conserved genes such as 16S ribosomal, ribosomal protein (rp), SecY, and tuf allowed their identification and classification. Using such molecular tools it is possible performing epidemiological studies in order to better know and therefore prevent, further spreading of phytoplasma-associated diseases.