Phytoplasma

Phytoplasma

Cell-wall-free pathogenic bacteria in the class Mollicutes that cause plant diseases, usually referred to as “yellows”. Formerly known as MLO (Mycoplasma like organism), they are the smallest among the Bacteria. Phytoplasmas are transmitted by planthoppers and leafhoppers in the order Hemiptera. They propagate within the cytoplasm of these insects and in their host plants.

Reference

Hogenhout, S.A., Oshima, K., Ammar, E.-D., Kakizawa, S. Kingdom, H.N. and Namba, S. 2008. Phytoplasmas: bacteria that manipulate plants and insects. Molecular Plant Pathology 9: 403–423.

Weintraub, P.G. and Beanland, L. 2006. Insect vectors of phytoplasmas. Annual Review of Entomology 51: 91-111.