RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Valiunas, Deividas A1 Staniulis, Juozas A1 Davis, Robert E.YR 2006 T1 ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae’, a novel phytoplasma taxon discovered in yellows diseased strawberry, Fragaria×ananassa JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 56 IS 1 SP 277 OP 281 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.63935-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB Symptoms of general stunting and yellowing of leaves were observed in diseased cultivated strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duchesne) in Lithuania. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified by PCR indicated that the symptoms were associated with infection by a phytoplasma, designated strawberry yellows (StrawY) phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that StrawY phytoplasma, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australiense’, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, stolbur phytoplasma and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma japonicum’ shared a common ancestor, but were mutually distinct. Nucleotide sequence alignments of a 1·3 kb 16S rRNA gene sequence fragment revealed that StrawY phytoplasma shared 97·4 % or less similarity with previously described ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species. These results, in addition to natural host and geographical occurrence, support the recognition of StrawY phytoplasma as a representative of a novel taxon, ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae’., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.63935-0