ABSTRACT: Physalis is an herbaceous species native to the Andes region. Currently, it is cultivated in various Brazilian states due to the economic interest of growers for this new fruit. Physalis plants grown in the field showed symptoms of shoot proliferation, leaf malformation, and chlorosis. Since these symptoms are commonly induced by phytoplasmas, this study investigated to confirm the presence of these prokaryotes in symptomatic plants. After DNA extraction from symptomatic and asymptomatic plants, phytoplasmas were found in all affected plants through the nested PCR. Examination by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using appropriately prepared segments of leaf veins allowed the visualization of typical pleomorphic cells of phytoplasmas in the phloem of symptomatic plants. The computer-simulated RFLP patterns and the phylogenetic analysis allowed identifying the detected phytoplasmas as a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini’-related strain belonging to the 16SrVII-B subgroup. Moreover, physalis was identified as an additional host species for phytoplasmas in the 16SrVII group, expanding the current knowledge on the host range of phytoplasmas in this group.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) production in Paraguay has been severely affected by infection with Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), which causes a disease known locally as ka'are. Because very little is known about the epidemiology of this disease, a survey was performed in fields surrounding affected sesame plantations to identify CABMV-infected plants that may be acting as sources of inoculum. Samples from 48 plant species (symptomatic or asymptomatic, mostly spontaneous and a few cultivated) belonging to 17 families were evaluated by biological and serological assays. In a few select cases, confirmation of the infection was achieved by RT-PCR. The following species were found to be naturally infected by CABMV: Amaranthus hybridus, Arachis hypogaea, Crotalaria incana, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis, and Vigna unguiculata. The absence of resistant/tolerant sesame cultivars along with the ineffectiveness of disease control through the chemical control of aphid vectors indicates that the only alternative available for disease management at present is the elimination and/or reduction of the sources of inoculum immediately before starting new plantations.