Journal of Plant Pathology Archive

Abstract:

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso) is a vector-borne Gram negative bacterium, limited to the phloem of infected plants of the families Solanaceae in America and New Zealand and Apiaceae in Europe. This bacterium has genetic variants denominated as five haplotypes A, B, C, D and E in different crops and regions. In Mexico, it is reported that haplotype B is associated with potato whereas only Lso A infects chili pepper in the northern region of Mexico. Due to this pathogen’s potential to cause damage in crops of economic importance in Mexico, the objective of this study was to check whether different Lso variants could be found in chili infected by this bacterium. In 2012 and 2013, psyllids (vector) and chili (cv. Rivera) samples were collected from commercial production fields in Yurécuaro, Michoacán (central Mexico). Samples were also collected of psyllids and symptomatic potato plants in Toluca, Mexico. DNA was extracted from tissues of the plants and the psyllids with appropriate protocols. The DNA samples were tested for the presence of Lso by PCR using 16-23S rDNA primers and for Lso haplotypes using SSR (LSO- SSR- 1F and LSO- SSR- 1R). We found that in natural environments haplotype A occurred more frequently in chili than in potato. To our knowledge, this is the first report of haplotypes A and B from Lso associated with variegated chili in Mexico.