Molecular identification and characterization of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain associated with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) yellow crinkle disease in China

Pepper yellow crinkle disease was first reported in China. PCR amplification using primer pairs specific for 16S rRNA, groEL, tuf or secA gene of phytoplasma yielded a fragment of 1331 bp for 16S rRNA, 1296 bp for groEL, 935 bp for tuf and 705 bp for secA. The phytoplasma was named pepper yellow crinkle (PYC) phytoplasma, strain PYC-hnhk, and is related to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. Genetic analysis indicated that PYC-hnhk was closely related to phytoplasma strains that infect periwinkle, chinaberry, and areca palm, all from Hainan Island of China.