# Status and Distribution of Diseases Caused by Phytoplasmas in Africa

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the status and distribution of Phytoplasma-caused diseases in Africa, highlighting their impact on crops and the need for further research.

## Contribution

The paper compiles and analyzes the current knowledge of Phytoplasma diseases in Africa, identifying their distribution and socio-economic impacts.

## Key findings

- Phytoplasmas in Africa belong to eight 16S rRNA RFLP groups, affecting various crops.
- Lethal yellow disease is the most destructive Phytoplasma in Africa with significant socio-economic impact.
- New molecular techniques have helped identify Phytoplasmas previously misattributed to other pathogens.

## Abstract

Phytoplasma (“Candidatus Phytoplasma” species) diseases have been reported globally to severely limit the productivity of a wide range of economically important crops and wild plants causing different yellows-type diseases. With new molecular detection techniques, several unknown and known diseases with uncertain etiologies or attributed to other pathogens have been identified as being caused by Phytoplasmas. In Africa, Phytoplasmas have been reported in association with diseases in a broad range of host plant species. However, the few reports of Phytoplasma occurrence in Africa have not been collated together to determine the status in different countries of the continent. Thus, this paper discusses the geographical distribution, detection techniques, insect vectors, alternative hosts and socio-economic impacts of Phytoplasma diseases in Africa. This is to create research perspectives on the disease’s etiology in Africa for further studies towards identifying and limiting their negative effects on the continent’s agricultural economy. In Africa, Phytoplasmas recorded in different countries affecting different crops belong to eight groups (16SrI, 16SrII, 16SrIII, 16SrIV, 16SrVI, 16SrXI, 16SrXIV and 16SrXXII) out of the 37 groups and over 150 subgroups reported worldwide on the basis of their 16S rRNA RFLP profile. Lethal yellow disease was the most destructive Phytoplasma reported in Africa and has a high socio-economic impact.