Molecular detection of phytoplasma from phyllody infected sesame and its vector orosius albicinctus distant

Asymptomatic and symptomatic plants were collected from the phyllody infected sesame field during kharif 2012. From the infected plants, leaves, flowers, stems, seed capsules and roots were selected both from symptoms and symptomless branch. Leafhoppers were also collected from the same field with insect collection net. Total genomic DNA from asymptomatic and symptomatic plants was extracted following CTAB (Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide) method with some modifications and from leafhoppers with phenol-chloroform extraction protocol. Amplification of band size 1.8 kb and 1.2 kb was obtained from symptomatic plant and its vector Orosius albicinctus using phytoplasma specific primer pair P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2, respectively in first and second round PCR. The phytoplasma could be detected only from stems of symptomless branch of infected plant while in symptomatic plant's branch it was amplified from stem and flower. Thus the status of leafhopper, O. albicinctus as a vector of phytoplasma that cause sesame phyllody was confirmed. Further, it was observed that the symptomless parts of phyllody infected plants also harbour phytoplasma.