Multilocus sequence analyses support a low genetic diversity among ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’ related strains infecting vegetable crops in Egypt. multilocus sequence analysis of Egyptian phytoplasma strains related to Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia

In order to trace the propagation pathways of Candidatus phytoplasma australasia in Egyptian vegetable crop, MLSA protocols have been set-up and target four phytoplama genes, namely tuf, secY, dnaK and dppA. Sequences were obtained from tomato, eggplant and squash collected in theEgyptian governorates Sharkia, Elmynia and Beni sueif in 2010 and in Catharanthus roseus periwinkle collected in 2013. Sequence comparisons show that no sequence diversity was found among Egyptian isolates that also constitute a distinct cluster within the 16SrII-D taxonomic subgroup.