Phytoplasma associated with virescence in an epiphytic orchid in Australia

The orchid Sarcochilus hartmanii x Sarcochilus falcatus showing flower vire scence with some evidence of stunting was found during an orchid virus surv ey of south-east Queensland. Phytoplasma bodies were detected by thin-secti on electron microscopy and phytoplasma DNA was detected using the polymeras e chain reaction (PCR). Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) ana lysis was used to compare this phytoplasma with those found in dicotyledono us plants. RFLP analysis demonstrated that this orchid phytoplasma was indi stinguishable from the tomato big bud phytoplasma.