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Identification and characterization of phytoplasma and virus pathogens associated with alfalfa diseases in Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

by Khalid Alhudaib

ABSTRACT

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is cultivated as a forage crop in many countries and is distinguished from other agricultural crops in having a perennial habit (Marcone et al, 1997; Khan et al, 2002). Viruses and phytoplasmas diseases have been reported scoring very significant economic losses in several countries worldwide. Recently the virus has been identified in Crotalaria sp., which is also a host for phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI and 16SrII (Gillaspie et al, 2006), so it is a threat to target crops once the virus reaches alfalfa considering its highest spreading ratio and aggressiveness. In our project we will evaluate the presence of phytoplasma and mosaic virus diseases in alfalfa and nearby crops of interest throughout East province of Saudi Arabia