Assessment of Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) for Identification of Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum from Different Host Plants in Spain
Author
Ruiz-Padilla, Ana; Redondo, Cristina; Asensio, Adrián; Garita-Cambronero, Jerson; Martínez, Carmen; Pérez-Padilla, Verónica; Marquínez, Raquel; Collar, Jesús; García-Méndez, Eva; Alfaro-Fernández, Ana; Asensio-S.-Manzanera, Carmen; Palomo, José L.; Siverio, Felipe; De-León, Leandro; Cubero, JaimeDate
2020Cita bibliográfica
Ruiz-Padilla, A., Redondo, C., Asensio, A., Garita-Cambronero, J., Martínez, C., Pérez-Padilla, V., ... & Asensio-S-Manzanera, C. (2020). Assessment of Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) for Identification of Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum from Different Host Plants in Spain. Microorganisms, 8(9), 1446.Abstract
Liberibacter is a bacterial group causing di#erent diseases and disorders in plants. Among
liberibacters, Candidatus Liberibacter solanaceraum (CLso) produces disorders in several species
mainly within Apiaceae and Solanaceae families. CLso isolates are usually grouped in defined
haplotypes according to single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with ribosomal elements.
In order to characterize more precisely isolates of CLso identified in potato in Spain, a Multilocus
Sequence Analysis (MLSA) was applied. This methodology was validated by a complete analysis of
ten housekeeping genes that showed an absence of positive selection and a nearly neutral mechanism
for their evolution. Most of the analysis performed with single housekeeping genes, as well as
MLSA, grouped together isolates of CLso detected in potato crops in Spain within the haplotype E,
undistinguishable from those infecting carrots, parsnips or celery. Moreover, the information from
these housekeeping genes was used to estimate the evolutionary divergence among the di#erent
CLso by using the concatenated sequences of the genes assayed. Data obtained on the divergence
among CLso haplotypes support the hypothesis of evolutionary events connected with di#erent hosts,
in di#erent geographic areas, and possibly associated with di#erent vectors. Our results demonstrate
the absence in Spain of CLso isolates molecularly classified as haplotypes A and B, traditionally
considered causal agents of zebra chip in potato, as well as the uncertain possibility of the present
haplotype to produce major disease outbreaks in potato that may depend on many factors that should
be further evaluated in future works.