Characterization of phytoplasma agent in roses in the landscape areas of Şanlıurfa province

In surveys conducted between March and August 2023, symptoms that were thought to be caused by phytoplasma agents were observed in the leaves of rose plants in the landscape areas of Şanlıurfa province, such as yellowing, thinning, curling, shortening of the internodes and general stunting of the plant. This study was carried out to detect the phytoplasma agent on roses. Total nucleic acid extractions were performed using fresh leaves (from midrib) of the samples to be suspected using CTAB buffer-based method. Total NAs were tested in two round of Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR). During PCR tests, R16F1/R16R0 universal primer pair amplify 1.400 bp product on 16SrRNA gene in the first round of PCR (direct), R16F2n/R16R2 universal primer pair amplify 1.250 bp product from direct PCR product in the second round of PCR (nested) were used. As a result of the nested PCR tests, 1.250 bp PCR product expected was observed from samples of plants showing symptom. Sequence analysis of the Nested PCR products was performed, and the 16SrDNA partial sequences were aligned in the MEGAX software program and compared with BLAST analysis in NCBI. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the phytoplasma agent detected in rose was 98.8% related to the 16SrII-B subgroup "Candidatus Phyoplasma aurantifolia".