Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this phytoplasma clustered in the 16SrIII group, the type member of which is X-disease phytoplasma. This is the first report of a phytoplasma infecting faba bean in Spain, and the first report of a phytoplasma in this group infecting faba bean.
Key words: legumes, X-disease phytoplasma group, 16S rDNA sequence, polymerase chain reaction, cloning phytoplasma DNA, phylogenetic analysis.