Phytoplasma-induced floral malformations
such as virescence, phyllody, and proliferation were
observed on hydrangeas in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, secY, groEL,
and amp gene sequences indicated that the affected
hydrangea plants were associated with phytoplasmas
belonging to ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’, but not to
‘Ca. P. japonicum’, which occurs in hydrangeas showing
phyllody in Japan. This is the first molecular evidence of an
association of ‘Ca. P. asteris’ with hydrangea plants in
Japan.