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Symptoms of Phytoplasma Diseases

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Phytoplasmas

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1875))

Abstract

Phytoplasmas are associated with diseases in several hundreds of cultivated herbaceous and woody plants. Their impact in agriculture and the periodical outbreak of worrying epidemics make very important, besides precise laboratory-based diagnosis, the direct in-field recognition of phytoplasma disease symptoms. Even if some symptoms are typical of this kind of pathogens, in-field diagnosis requires the knowledge of the host plant, strong field experience, and awareness of the symptom variability of the various organs of the plant during different seasons and under various environmental conditions. It is therefore very important to be familiar with factors like environmental conditions, agronomical features, and disease progression that influence symptom expression. Therefore, a satisfactory diagnosis should be based on repeated and complete observations scored over the entire plant and across different times of the year. A more suitable diagnosis is possible if the observer is able to recognize and distinguish the symptoms of other biotic or abiotic diseases. A general rule is to observe three different symptoms, at least, and to seek input from the grower about the initial development, frequency, diffusion, and particular characteristics of the disease.

After a short introduction the following symptoms are presented: the most common and representative symptoms caused by phytoplasmas; the most common symptoms of phytoplasma diseases occurring in particular plant organs, with some references to specific diseases; phytoplasma symptoms on the model plant periwinkle (Vinca rosea or Catharanthus roseus); the main factors influencing phytoplasma symptoms expression; and several practical procedures that should be followed for suitable diagnosis. A series of original photos have been included to illustrate typical symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Paolo Ermacora & Ruggero Osler

Authors
  1. Paolo Ermacora
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  2. Ruggero Osler
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Correspondence to Paolo Ermacora .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Rita Musetti

  2. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Laura Pagliari

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Ermacora, P., Osler, R. (2019). Symptoms of Phytoplasma Diseases. In: Musetti, R., Pagliari, L. (eds) Phytoplasmas. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1875. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8837-2_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8837-2_5

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8836-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8837-2

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