TRANSMISSION OF PHYTOPLASMAS ASSOCIATED WITH FULL BLOSSOM DISEASE IN RIBES RUBRUM

To reveal the role of phytoplasmas in Full Blossom Disease (FBD) etiology and their potential to induce symptoms in Ribes sp. we conducted graft and dodder (Cuscuta sp.) transmission experiments. From FBD infected red currant we successfully transmitted by dodder aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup 16SrI-C to periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.), where we observed symptoms of green petal and yellows. The identity of phytoplasma in currant and perwinkle was confirmed by RFLP and sequencing. Back transmission experiments by dodder from periwinkle to red currant seedlings are in progress. We also grafted scions of periwinkle infected with aster yellows phytoplasma subgroup 16SrI-C to seedlings of red currant 'Jonkheer van Tets'. The phytoplasma was successfully transmitted to one of ten plants, which was confirmed by RFLP and sequencing. Thus far, we have observed no symptoms but the plant has not flowered. This is the first evidence that phytoplasma can infect red currant without synergism with Blackcurrant reversion virus.