0000000000918298
AUTHOR
M. G. Bellardi
Characterization of a Cucumber mosaic virus isolate infecting Mandevilla sanderi (Hemsl.) Woodson
In 2004, virus-like symptoms consisting of yellow rings in older leaves were observed in the foliage of Mandevilla sanderi grown from shoots in the province of Catania (Sicily, Italy). The plants were tested for virus presence using DAS-ELISA, mechanical inoculations to the host, RT-PCR and SSCP. Serological tests detected Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in all symptomatic leaf samples. The virus was mechanically transmitted to 11 of the 15 host species tested, including some of the Chenopodiaceae and Solanaceae families; indicator plants showed symptoms typical of CMV subgroup I. RT-PCR, SSCP and cloning were employed to characterize this CMV isolate, and to make clear its genetic relationship…
Genetic variation and evolutionary analysis of Cucumber mosaic virus in medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants from Northern Italy
The genetic variation and evolution of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) (1) infecting aromatic, medicinal and ornamental plants in Northern Italy were studied by sequence analysis of the movement protein gene and comparison with equivalent sequences of isolates from other countries. Comparison of nonsynonymous and synonymous substitutions at each codon suggested that 30% of amino acid sites were under negative selection and only one was under positive selection. Phylogenetic inference, nucleotide diversity estimation, neutrality tests and genetic differentiation analysis revealed a high nucleotide diversity of CMV in Northern Italy with respect to areas of other countries [1,2] and suggested tha…
Survey on virus disease affecting Poligala myrtifolia in Liguria.
Virescence of tenweeks stock associated to phytoplasma infection in Sicily
In April 2007, a severe disease occurred in Sicily (Italy) in a glasshouse cultivation of tenweeks stock belonging to the cultivar White-Beach. Plants were stunted and rosetted, and the flowers were of small size and characterized by virescence symptoms. Phytoplasma presence and identity was detected by applying PCR/RFLP techniques and sequencing of 16S ribosomal gene. Phytoplasmas were identified as belonging to ribosomal subgroup 16SrII-A, never reported before in Italy and showed 99% of homology with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ and related phytoplasmas. This is the first report of a phytoplasma disease of tenweeks stock. Considering that this Brassicaceae ornamental species is …