A strain of phytoplasma related to 16SrII group in Picris hieracioides L. in Serbia

During epidemiological survey for phytoplasmas in association with agricultural crops in Serbia, a new species of common weed has been detected to harbor phytoplasmas in Serbia. In 2010, a total of 38 samples of Picris hieracioides (Asteraceae), commonly known as hawkweed oxtongue, were sampled from vineyards in Jasenovik (near Nis, South Serbia) and analyzed for phytoplasma presence. Nested polymerase chain reaction analysis using primers specific to the phytoplasma 16SrDNA gene showed six samples of Picris hieracioides to be positive. Digestion of amplified 16SrDNA fragments with endonuclease MseI identified the same pattern as the one of a reference strain of tomato big bud belonging to the 16Srll ribosomal group. Sequence obtained from the PCR product associated with infected P. hieracioides was submitted to BLAST analysis which showed a 99% similarity with reference strain of Picris echioides phyllody from Italy, belonging to 16SrII-E subgroup. This is the first report of phytoplasma related to 16SrII group infecting Picris hieracioides, as well as, the first record on the presence of this group of phytoplasmas in Serbia and South East Europe.