Molecular detection and identification of subgroup 16SrI-L phytoplasma in ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium

Diseased plants of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)exhibiting symptoms of general yellowing and stunting of plants, and sterility of spikes were observed in fields of the Vilnius region, Lithuania. A phytoplasma-characteristic fragment of 16S rDNA was amplified in nested polymerase chain reaction assay, confirming phytoplasma infection in the symptomatic plants. RFLP analysis indicated that ryegrass was infected with aster yellows group phytoplasma (16SrI), belonging to subgroup I-L. The phytoplasma was named ryegrass yellows (RgY)phytoplasma. This is a first report on AY group phytoplasma in ryegrass