ESA Annual Meetings Online Program

D0082 Diagnostic analysis of phytoplasma in plants and insects using 454 pyrosequencing

Monday, November 14, 2011
Exhibit Hall 3, First Floor (Reno-Sparks Convention Center)
Adam L. Booth , Biology Dept, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX
Susan Halbert , Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville, FL
Blake R. Bextine , Department of Biology, University of Texas, Tyler, TX
Detection of phytoplasma infections in varying plant species and their insect host is difficult using standard molecular techniques. Lethal Yellowing is a disease of palm trees in which phytoplasma are the causative agents. For successful detection multiple extraction techniques were employed to obtain phytoplasma DNA from insects captured off infected palm trees. Concurrently, palm tissue was sampled for phytoplasma DNA using the same extraction techniques. Polymerase chain reaction was employed to amplify phytoplasma DNA with a known working primer set. Gel electrophoresis was performed to confirm positive results. Additionally, presence of bacterial composition within the insects of study was completed using 454 Pyrosequencing. This provided supporting sequence data, evidence of phytoplasma presence. Through development of better diagnostics for phytoplasma disease more information can be gathered to prevent infections.

doi: 10.1603/ICE.2016.59841

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