The first report of a phytoplasma associated with pot marigold phyllody in Iran.

Pot marigold phyllody was observed in a Botanical Garden in Yazd province of Iran. The disease agent was transmitted from pot marigold to pot marigold and periwinkle via dodder inoculation. Polymerase chain reaction using phytoplasma-specific primer pair P1/P7 or nested PCR using primer pair P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2, amplified products of expected size (1.8 and 1.2 kbp, respectively) from symptomatic pot marigold in the field and from symptomatic dodder inoculated pot marigold and periwinkle plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of R16F2n/R16R2 primed nested PCR products indicated association of a peanut witches' broom related phytoplasma (16SrII) in naturally and experimentally infected pot marigold plants. This is the first report of pot marigold phyllody in Iran.