Recent Insight into the Detection and Management of Phytoplasma Diseases

Abstract

Phytoplasmas are phytopathogenic prokaryotes without a cell wall and inhabit phloem sieve elements in infected plants belongs to class mollicutes. Phytoplasma diseases are increasingly important worldwide, with a high economic impact on crop production and quality, causing losses of millions of dollars in several economic fields and horticultural crops that affect their market values. The plants infected with phytoplasmas are of major concern as they are easily vectored by insects and very difficult to manage once established. The remedial measures advocated so far focused mostly on vector management and prophylactic measures rather than curative measures. Prevention of the infection through control of insect vectors is the most probable solution available. Once the plant is infected, it is difficult to target the pathogen and control it as it spreads through vegetative propagation. The successful elimination of phytoplasma from infected plants by the use of tetracycline derivatives in various crops. The use of plant growth regulators, especially auxins in different combinations, have shown a reduction in phytoplasma induced symptoms on plants. A revival of symptoms in infected plants by use of plant immunity activators like benzothiadiazole, acibenzolar methyl, etc., has been observed in fruit trees from abroad.