Multilocus sequence analysis of phytoplasma associated with brinjal little leaf disease and its detection in Hishimonus phycitis in India

Brinjal little leaf is a phytoplasmas-associated disease widespread in India that induces severe economic losses in the crop. In this study phytoplasmas infecting brinjal plants in New Delhi, India were characterized by RFLP analysis and DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA, ribosomal protein rpl22, secA and 23S rRNA genes. Collective actual and virtual RFLP patterns, sequence analysis and sequence based phylogenetic analysis of the studied loci showed that the phytoplasma associated with brinjal little leaf disease in New Delhi, India is a member of 16SrVI-D subgroup. PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA of phytoplasma from Hishimonus phycitis confirmed that the phytoplasma in vector is molecularly indistinguishable from the one in the host plant.