Association of mycoplasma‐like bodies with potato witches' broom disease from Scotland

Abstract

SUMMARYMycoplasma‐like bodies were found by electron microscopy of sections of sieve tubes, both from shoots and roots of potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants affected by Scottish witches' broom disease and from graft‐inoculated tomato shoots. The bodies were bounded by a unit membrane, contained ribosome‐like material and mostly measured 200–800 nm in diameter. Most were oval in cross‐section but some had lobes or slender protrusions. Some of the bodies were found in the mouths of sieve pores.