MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYTOPLASMA ON TOMATO IN BAHAWALPUR REGION

Abstract

 Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a most significant and widely planted horticultural crop over the globe,
ancestrally belonging to Solanaceae family. Its genetic formation makes it vulnerable to all pathogens (Viruses,
Bacteria, Fungi, Nematodes, and Phytoplasmas). After viruses, phytoplasmas are the rising threat to tomato
production, as they cause significant yield losses across the globe. During the field visit of tomato growing area
in Bahawalpur, tomato leaf samples showing prominent symptoms were collected and nucleic acid extraction
was performed to identify the causal agent of the disease. Extracted DNA was further processed using
polymerase chain reaction as a molecular characterization technique. After 16S rRNA employing the gene-specific primer pair P1/P7, PCR product of about 1800 bp was amplified, and retrieved sequence was submitted
to Genbank (accession Number: OQ651404). The sequence analysis was performed showing the maximum
similarity with the Candidatus Phytoplasmas isolated from field bindweed (convolvulus arvensis L) reported
from Pakistan (accession Number: MT119155). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence of
association of Candidatus Phytoplasmas with leaf shortening disease of tomato from Pakistan. The findings
require immediate attention and extensive investigation into their distribution in Pakistan, as well as appropriate
interventions.