2.1. Phyllody isolates and nucleic acid extraction
Ten phyllody disease affected black pepper samples collected from Kozhikode District of Kerala state, India were used in this study. Spikes collected from asymptomatic black pepper plants from Kannur District of Kerala state, India were used as healthy control. Total DNAs were extracted from healthy and malformed black pepper spikes using DNA Plant kit (Macherey-Nagel, Duren, Germany). Total DNAs extracted from a known phytoplasma (periwinkle little leaf) was used as positive control. Water control (without template DNA) was also included in all the PCR reaction to check for contamination if any.