Identification of different phytoplasmas infecting grapevine in Turkey

Grapevines with severe redness and inward curling of leaves were collected from the main viticulture production areas, Aegean, Central Anatolia and Western Anatolian regions of Turkey. Collected samples were subjected to nucleic acid extraction followed by nested PCR/RFLP analyses that allow to identify different phytoplasmas in symptomatic grapevines. The majority of samples were infected with phytoplasmas belonging to 16SrXII group and referable to the 'bois noir' phytoplasmas, while in some samples 16SrIX or 16SrI-B phytoplasmas were identified. The 16SrIX phytoplasmas are firstly reported in grapevine.