Detection of potato stolbur phytoplasma in Spain
In Spain, the first reference to the possible presence of stolbur on tomatoes appeared in 1977. The disease was observed in 1978 in Murcia on tomato crops, in 1980 on capsicum in the Ebro valley, in 1980 and 1982 in capsicum near Zaragoza and in 1982 near Badajoz and Logroño. In summer 1994, near Valencia, serious symptoms were observed in a tomato field. Symptoms were characterized by flower deformation, unusually large sepals, hard fruit, proliferation of axillary shoots, smaller leaves on the terminal shoots and a purple discoloration of the leaves. Near this tomato plot, capsicum plants showed clear symptoms of yellowing and stunting. By PCR techniques, potato stolbur phytoplasma (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) was detected in symptomatic tomato and capsicum plants. These results confirms the presence of potato stolbur phytoplasma in Spain.
Sources
Avinent, L.; Llácer, G. (1995) El "stolbur" del tomate: detección en España mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerase (PCR).
Boletín de Sanidad Vegetal, Plagas, 21(3), 417-423.