Detection and molecular characterization of a phytoplasma in Eclipta prostrata in China

Witches’ broom and phyllody, associated with phytoplasma infection, were observed on Eclipta prostrata , a common herb throughout the world, in Haikou, Hainan Province, China. Phytoplasma infection was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction and phytoplasma-specific primer pairs P1/P7, R16F2n/R16R2, rp(II)F/rp(II)R and subsequent amplicon sequencing. Based on the partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene and ribosomal protein gene, phylogenetic tree analysis and RFLP analysis of phytoplasma showed that the phytoplasma was a strain related to ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a phytoplasma in E. prostrata worldwide.