author(s)
RK Kalaria, Sunita Ghanghas and AI Patel

abstract
Brinjal little leaf (BLL) is a common phytoplasma etiology disease in India that causes serious financial losses. The sample was collected from the south Gujarat region of India during March, 2019 showing severe symptoms of stunting and profuse branching with little leaf were collected for phytoplasma identification and detection. Direct PCR assays using phytoplasma-specific primary pairs P1/P7 were performed from the leaf DNA of diseased plant. Amplified ~900bp fragment was further compared and a 16S rRNA gene sequence of BLL phytoplasma strains was verified as Candidatus Phytoplasma spp. strain NAU gujarat 16S ribosomal RNA gene (MK942854) belonging to the 16SrVI category of phytoplasma clover proliferation. To our understanding, this Candidatus Phytoplasma spp. first report incidence of brinjal in Gujarat, India.