First report on a yellows disease of Allium altyncolicum associated with phytoplasma infection

Plants of Allium altyncolicum maintained within the Allium collection of th e Research Institute of Crop Production Praha-Ruzyne. Section Olomouc (Czec h Republic), exhibited symptoms typical of diseases associated with phytopl asmas. Planes showed stunting, yellowing, premature flowering and newer def ormities. Anther sterility of flowers of diseased plants was also recorded. Phytoplasma-like structures;were detected by transmission electron microsc opy in sieve tubes of diseased plants. The use of PCR designed to amplify p hytoplasma ribosomal DNA resulted in detection of aster yellows phytoplasma ; no phytoplasma was detected in nonsymptomatic plants. On the basis of the RFLP patterns of PCR-amplified ribosomal DNA, the phytoplasma infecting A. altyncolicum was classified as a member of the 16SiI Aster yellows phytopl asma group, subgroup I-E. This is the first report on detection of a phytop lasma disease of A. altyncolicum.