First report of Almond witches' broom phytoplasma1 ('Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium') causing a severe disease on nectarine and peach trees in Lebanon

Des symptomes de proliferation des rameaux caracteristiques des maladies a phytoplasme ont ete observes sur nectariniers (Prunus persica var. nucipersica) et pechers (P. persica) dans la plaine de Sarada, au sud du Liban. La presence de phytoplasmes dans les deux vergers visites a ete confirmee par nested PCR en utilisant des amorces universelles. Les fragments d'ADN amplifies ont ete clones et sequences. Une analyse Blast de plus de 1000 nucleotides a demontre la presence de 'Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium' qui est considere comme etant l'agent responsable de l'Almond witches' broom. Ce phytoplasme qui appartient au groupe du pigeon pea witches' broom (16SrIX) peut etre devastateur car l'Almond witches' broom a tue des milliers d'amandiers au Liban et en Iran. Des signalements anterieurs indiquaient que l'Almond witches' broom peut etre transmis par greffage aux pechers et nectariniers en conditions experimentales. Ceci est le premier signalement d'une dissemination naturelle et epidemique de 'Ca. Phytoplasma phoenicium' sur pechers et nectariniers. Il a ete conseille aux producteurs de la region d'eradiquer les arbres infectes immediatement. D'autres etudes sur l'epidemiologie de 'Ca. Phytoplasma phoenicium' et ses vecteur(s) sont recommandees afin de developper des programmes reussis d'eradication ou de gestion de la maladie.

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