What is Phytoplasma?

  • Phytoplasma are wall less bacteria like organisms
  • They belong to the class Mollicutes
  • They lack a rigid cell wall and are pleomorphic in shape
  • They are obligate parasites and cannot survive outside host organisms
  • They infect plant phloem tissue and depend entirely on the host for nutrients

Key Characteristics

  • Absence of cell wall makes them resistant to antibiotics like penicillin
  • Extremely small genome with limited metabolic capacity
  • Confined to phloem tissues of plants
  • Cannot be cultured in artificial laboratory media
  • Multiply by binary fission

Transmission

  • Transmitted mainly by phloem feeding insect vectors
  • Common vectors include
    • Leafhoppers
    • Planthoppers
    • Psyllids
  • Transmission is persistent and propagative
  • Once infected, the insect remains a carrier for life

Symptoms in Plants

  • Little leaf formation
  • Yellowing of leaves
  • Witches broom appearance due to excessive branching
  • Phyllody where floral organs are converted into leaf like structures
  • Stunted growth and reduced yield
  • Decline and eventual death in severe infections

Important Phytoplasma Diseases

  • Little leaf disease of brinjal
  • Grassy shoot disease of sugarcane
  • Sandal spike disease
  • Sesame phyllody
  • Witches broom disease in legumes and ornamentals

Diagnosis

  • Cannot be cultured, so diagnosis relies on
    • PCR based molecular techniques
    • DNA hybridisation
    • Fluorescent microscopy
  • Electron microscopy used for visual confirmation in research

Control and Management

  • No direct curative treatment once plant is infected
  • Management strategies include
    • Removal and destruction of infected plants
    • Control of insect vectors using integrated pest management
    • Use of disease free planting material
    • Crop rotation and field sanitation
  • Antibiotics like tetracycline may suppress symptoms but are not practical for field use

Significance in Agriculture

  • Cause heavy yield losses in economically important crops
  • Difficult to manage due to lack of curative treatment
  • Major concern in tropical and subtropical agriculture
About the UPSC Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE)

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