Molecular detection and identification of group 16SrV and 16SrXII phytoplasmas associated with potatoes in Colombia

At the end of 2010, a severe disease was observed in Solanum tuberosum L. in the variety ‘Criolla Colombiana’. Main symptoma-tology consisted in discoloration or yellowing of the whole plant, apical leafroll, dwarfing, axillary buds and thicker internodes. Phytoplasmas related to 16SrV and 16SrXII groups were identified by nested PCR assays followed by real and virtual RFLP and sequences analyses. This is the first report of phytoplasma presence in this species in Colombia and the first identification of group 16SrV phytoplasmas in potatoes.