Extraction of Western X Mycoplasmalike Organism from Leafhoppers and Celery Infected with Pearch Western X-Disease

Abstract

The ultrastructure of spherical electron transparent bodies of the Western X mycoplasma-like organism was preserved in extracts of leafhopper vectors, or celery plants, infected with peach Western X-disease that were suspended in a leafhopper tissue culture medium (CHIU and BLACK, 1967), containing 0.9 M sucrose. At room temperature (28°C) for tissue culture, the infectivity of the extracts was retained for 2, but not 3 days. In the case of the celery extracts, the infectivity of the preparation was not immediately detectable, but rose to a maximum level of detection 2 days later, and then disappeared. Celery apparently contained some inhibitory material for infectivity.