Phylogenetic position of ‘bois noir’ phytoplasma based on analyses of rpsJ-rplC-rplD-rplW-rplB gene sequences

In the present work, a 2,738 bp DNA segment of the operon S10, including the genes rpsJ, rplC, rplD, rplW and rplB, from an Italian 'bois noir' phytoplasma strain detected in grapevine was amplified. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses allowed to clarify the phylogenetic position of this 'bois noir' phytoplasma strain within 16S rDNA RFLP group 16SrXII and to identify molecular markers useful for specific phytoplasma identification. The results stimulate further work aimed at obtaining the nucleotide sequence of the entire superoperon S10-spc-alpha for a more detailed characterization of 'bois noir' phytoplasma.