First report of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris'-related strain (16SrI-B subgroup) associated with witches' broom disease in Cucurbita pepo in India

摘要

Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbitaceae) is an important vegetable crop cultivated all over the world for its tender fruits which are used as a cooked vegetable. In India, pumpkins, squash and gourds occupy 0.36 million hectares which is the highest area of cucurbit cultivation in the world (FAO, 2010). Different groups of phytoplasmas have been reported to be associated with cucurbits, including 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' in Momordica charantia in Myanmar, 'Ca. P. australasia' in Cucurbita pepo and Cucumis sativus in Iran, and 'Ca. P. pruni' in Cucurbita moschata, Lagenaria siceraria, Luffa cylindrica and Sicana odorifera in Brazil (Salehi et al., 2015).