First report of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’ in Equatorial Guinea
‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’, one of the phytoplasmas causing lethal palm yellowing disease (EPPO A1 List), is first reported from Equatorial Guinea.
During the past two decades, a high mortality of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) has been observed in the coastal areas of Equatorial Guinea, dramatically decreasing coconut production. A survey was carried out in 2021 to identify the cause of this mortality in the Litoral Province. Symptomatic coconut palms were sampled, as well as two oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) showing skirting of the older leaves. Molecular analyses and sequencing were conducted and ‘Ca. P. palmicola’ was detected in the two palm species. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the strain present in Equatorial Guinea is identical to the strains from Mozambique, but different to the strains in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, confirming the presence of a geographic differentiation among phytoplasma strains in the coastal areas of Western and Central Africa.
Sources
Bertaccini A, Contaldo N, Feduzi G, Andeme AM, Yankey EN, Rovesti L (2023) Molecular identification of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma palmicola’ associated with coconut lethal yellowing in Equatorial Guinea. Annals of Applied Biology 183(3), 262-270. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12854