UC IPM Online UC ANR home page UC IPM home page

UC IPM Home

SKIP navigation

 
  Printer-friendly version

How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Aster leafhopper adult.

Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries

Phytoplasmas

(Reviewed 3/09, updated 3/09)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Symptoms of phytoplasma (previously known as mycoplasmalike organisms) diseases include yellowing and dwarfing, distorted foliage, and the abnormal production of shoots. Flowers may not develop normally and are often replaced by green leafy structures.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Phytoplasmas are microscopic organisms that are somewhat smaller than bacteria. They do not have a cell wall as do bacteria. The cytoplasm is bounded by a three-layered membrane.

For many years the aster yellows phytoplasma was considered a virus. This phytoplasma is vectored by leafhoppers, in which it can multiply, and has a very wide host range. In general, phytoplasmas are vectored by leafhoppers, plant hoppers, and psyllids and invade the phloem of infected plants.

PHYTOPLASMA ORGANISMS

Virus Transmission Ornamental hosts Crop plant hosts Weeds and native plant hosts
Aster yellows (aster yellows phytoplasma) leafhoppers alyssum, calceolaria, calendula, china aster, chrysanthemum, cineraria, daisies, delphinium, gladiolus, gloxinia, gypsophila, larkspur, petunia, statice, sweet william, tagetes, veronica, zinnia, and many others buckwheat, carrots, celery, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, potato, safflower, spinach, tomato, and many others California poppy, dandelion, plantain, and many others

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries
UC ANR Publication 3392
Diseases
S. T. Koike, UC Cooperative Extension Monterey County
C. A. Wilen, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension San Diego County
Acknowledgment for contributions to Diseases:
R. D. Raabe, (emeritus) Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM), UC Berkeley
A. H. McCain, (emeritus) Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM), UC Berkeley
M. E. Grebus, Plant Pathology, UC Riverside

Top of page

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2012 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r280101511.html revised: March 16, 2012. Contact webmaster.