Phyllody is a serious disease of sesame caused by phytoplasma. Different types of disease symptoms are reported to be associated with sesame phyllody. The major symptoms are phyllody, Flower virescence, witches broom, shoot tip fasciation, flattening of the shoot apex and cracking of seed capsules.
- What is Phyllody disease?
- What is the symptoms of Phyllody?
- What is phytoplasma disease?
- What is sandal spike disease?
What is Phyllody disease?
Phyllody is the abnormal development of floral parts into leafy structures. It is generally caused by phytoplasma or virus infections, though it may also be because of environmental factors that result in an imbalance in plant hormones.
What is the symptoms of Phyllody?
Plants bear symptoms of phyllody when;
- The entire flower is replaced with leafy structures.
- Leafy structures arise from a malformed flower.
- In strawberries leafy structures develop from the seed-like achenes on the surface of what is regarded as a 'fruit', which is essentially the swollen top of the flower stalk.
What is phytoplasma disease?
Phytoplasmas are phloem-limited pleomorphic bacteria lacking the cell wall, mainly transmitted through leafhoppers but also by plant propagation materials and seeds. Phytoplasma diseases of vegetable crops are characterized by symptoms such as little leaves, phyllody, flower virescence, big buds, and witches' brooms.
What is sandal spike disease?
Spike disease caused by phytoplasma is the major disease of sandalwood. The disease is noticed in all major sandal-growing states of India. Spike disease is characterized by extreme reduction in leaf size accompanied by stiffening and reduction of internode length.