Phytoplasma associated with virescence in an epiphytic orchid in Australia

The orchid Sarcochilus hartmanii x Sarcochilus falcatus showing flower virescence with some evidence of stunting was found during an orchid virus survey of south-east Queensland. Phytoplasma bodies were detected by thinsection electron microscopy and phytoplasma DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to compare this phytoplasma with those found in dicotyledonous plants. RFLP analysis demonstrated that this orchid phytoplasma was indistinguishable from the tomato big bud phytoplasma