Identification of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ Associated with Tree Peony Yellows Disease in China

Tree peony ( P aeonia suffruticosais ) plants with yellowing symptoms suggestive of a phytoplasma disease were observed in S handong P eninsula, C hina. Typical phytoplasma bodies were detected in the phloem tissue using transmission electron microscopy. The association of a phytoplasma with the disease was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) using phytoplasma universal primer pair R 16m F 2/ R 16m R 1 followed by R 16 F 2n/ R 16 R 2 as nested PCR primer pair. The sequence analysis indicated that the phytoplasma associated with tree peony yellows ( TPY ) was an isolate of ‘ C a. P hytoplasma solani’ belonging to the stolbur (16 S r XII ) group. This is the first report of a phytoplasma associated with tree peony.