First Report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma Aurantifolia' Associated with the Invasive Weed Eclipta Prostrata in Taiwan

In September 2021, Eclipta prostrata plants in Mailiao, Yunlin, Taiwan, exhibited branch proliferation and phyllody symptoms with a 30% incidence rate. Transmission electron microscopy and nested PCR confirmed the presence of phytoplasma-like organisms in symptomatic plants. The 16S rRNA gene analysis and western blotting identified the phytoplasma as ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ belonging to the 16SrII-V subgroup. This is the first report of such phytoplasma disease in E. prostrata in Taiwan. The study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education in Taiwan.