Scopazzi della ginestra in Sicilia

Spartium junceum is an important pioneer species of Mediterranean Basin. Spartium witches' broom (SWB) disease occurs in Italy and Spain. Besides the characteristic symptom, the plants show fasciations, yellowing of twigs, flower malformation and death of the whole plant. Both 'Candidatus Phytoplasma spartii' (16SrX-D) and a phytoplasma member of the 16SrV-C group have been associated to SWB. Since 2010 increasing reports of this syndrome were registered in Sicily region (South Italy) and particularly in the Etna area, a valuable viticultural territory. Detection and molecular characterization of phytoplasmas was carried out through analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplified by nested-PCR using universal primer pairs on samples of spartium with symptoms. Phytoplasma-specific amplicons were cloned and sequenced and the obtained sequences allowed to classify the detected pathogens, on the basis of virtual RFLP analysis performed by iPhyClassifier, in 16rRNA V-C and X-D groups and subgroups.