Abstract
Phytoplasma belonging to subgroup 16SrII-A and identified as “Candidatus Phytoplasma australasiae”- was found constantly associated with phyllody of Pedalium murex, a common medicinal cum succulent weed in coconut ecosystem prevalent in South India. Infected P. murex showed stunted growth with reduced leaf size, shortened internodes and the characteristic transformation of floral parts into leafy structures typical to that of phytoplasma disease. This weed could possibly serve as a reservoir of sesamum phyllody in this region but no link with root (wilt) disease in coconut could be established based on molecular characterization studies. This is the first report of the association of 16SrII-A group phytoplasma with pedalium phyllody from the world.
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