Abstract :
DNA was isolated from periwinkle {Catharanihus roseus)
infected with a phytoplasma that originated in loofah
witchesʹ broom affected by loofah. Cloned DNA
inserts from six LfWB-phytoplasma specific recombinant
plasmids were not only labelled with digoxigenin, but
also used as probes. Probes hybridized with DNA derived
from LfWB-phytoplasma affected periwinkle and loofah,
but not with DNA from healthy plants or plants infected
with phytoplasmas associated with elm yellows, red bird
cactus, peanut witchesʹ broom, paulownia witchesʹ
broom, Ipomoea obscura witchesʹ broom, aster yellows
(two isolates), and sweet potato witchesʹ broom obtained
with DNA from different phytoplasmas experimentally
maintained in periw inkle. The probes could detect LfWBphytoplasma
DNA with as little as 16 ng and 32 ng
of DNA from periwinkle and loofah, respectively. The
method proposed herein provides a means for specifically
detecting and identifying of loofah witchesʹ broom phytoplasma,
as well as confirming the notion that this phytoplasma
represents a distinct strain cluster,
