Phytoplasmas in the aster yellows (16SrI), clover proliferation (16SrVI) and stolbur (16SrXII) groups have a wide host range with common hosts. In the current study, specific primers based on the 16-23S rRNA spacer region were designed and optimised for the detection and identification of phytoplasmas in these groups in a multiplex nested PCR assay. Fifty-two phytoplasma symptomatic potato plants were tested, and clover proliferation (16SrVI) and stolbur (16SrXII) phytoplasmas detected coinfecting 16 potato plants with single infection of these phytoplasmas in 5 and 21 samples, respectively. ‘Candidatus P. asteris’ (16SrI) was not detected. The specificity of the primers was proven in both single and multiplex PCR assays. Detection of multiple infections can be useful in assisting epidemiological studies and in deciding appropriate disease management strategies.

翠菊黄（16SrI），三叶草增生（16SrVI）和斯托尔伯（16SrXII）组的植物原虫具有广泛的宿主范围，与常见宿主相同。在当前的研究中，基于多重巢式PCR分析法设计和优化了基于16-23S rRNA间隔区的特异性引物，以检测和鉴定这些组中的植物质体。测试了52株有症状的马铃薯植株，三叶草增殖（16SrVI）和stolbur（16SrXII）植原体分别在5个和21个样品中检测到16种马铃薯植株被这些植原体单次感染。“暂定P.阿斯特里斯'（16SrI）未检测到。引物的特异性已在单次和多次PCR分析中得到证实。多种感染的检测有助于辅助流行病学研究和确定适当的疾病管理策略。