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Mycoplasmas

Mycoplasmas are prokaryotic organisms without cell walls that can cause diseases in plants and animals. They belong to the class Mollicutes and order Mycoplasmatales. Mycoplasmas are divided into two pathogenic groups for plants - Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas. Phytoplasmas are difficult to culture and cause diseases like lethal yellowing of coconut by blocking the plant's phloem or hormonal balance. Spiroplasmas are easier to culture and cause diseases like citrus stubborn disease and corn stunt. Management of mycoplasma diseases involves using resistant cultivars, controlling insect vectors, sanitation, and antibiotics.

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Fatima Socorro Portillano
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50 views12 pages

Mycoplasmas

Mycoplasmas are prokaryotic organisms without cell walls that can cause diseases in plants and animals. They belong to the class Mollicutes and order Mycoplasmatales. Mycoplasmas are divided into two pathogenic groups for plants - Phytoplasmas and Spiroplasmas. Phytoplasmas are difficult to culture and cause diseases like lethal yellowing of coconut by blocking the plant's phloem or hormonal balance. Spiroplasmas are easier to culture and cause diseases like citrus stubborn disease and corn stunt. Management of mycoplasma diseases involves using resistant cultivars, controlling insect vectors, sanitation, and antibiotics.

Uploaded by

Fatima Socorro Portillano
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MOLLICUTES

MYCOPLASMA

• Prokaryotic organism similar to bacteria


• Without cell wall but have a unit plasma
membrane
• Contain both RNA and DNA
• In plants, they block the phloem or interfere
with the plant’s hormonal balance
MYCOPLASMA
• Belong to Class: Mollicutes
Order: Mycoplasmatales
• In solid media, form very small colonies (10-
600μm) that have fried egg appearance
• Can be grown on artificial media containing
sterols
MYCOPLASMA

• Cause diseases to plants, animals and humans


In plants, common symptoms include:
yellows, stunting, virescence, phyllody, and
production of auxiliary and adventitious
roots
MYCOPLASMA

• 2 Plant Pathogenic Groups:


Phytoplasma
Spiroplasma
transmitted by insects like leafhoppers,
planthoppers and psyllids
MYCOPLASMA

• 2 Plant Pathogenic Groups:


transmitted also through budding and
grafting
ex. Phytoplasma sp. – cause lethal
yellowing of coconut
Spiroplasma sp. – citrus stubborn
disease
MYCOPLASMA

Phytoplasmas – also called “mycoplasma-like


organisms” (MLO) before and are generally
found in the phloem
difficult to culture in artificial media and
reproduce by budding and binary transverse
fission of cells
MYCOPLASMA

Spiroplasmas – are helical during certain stages


of growth
easy to grow in a mycoplasma medium
and require sterol for growth

larger than the Phytoplasmas


DISEASES

Lethal Yellowing of Coconut


- due to Phytoplasma
- cause death of flowers and leaves
- kills trees in 6 months or less
DISEASES

Citrus Stubborn Disease


- due to Spiroplasma
- affects the leaves, fruits and stems
- plants exhibit stunting, die-back, bunchy
growth, mottling and chlorosis
DISEASES

Corn Stunt
- due to Spiroplasma
- causes leaf chlorosis, stunting, and bunchy
top appearance
MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES

1. Use of resistant cultivars or hybrids


2. Proper control of insect vectors
3. Use of mollicute-free planting materials
4. Use of tetracycline antibiotics
5. Sanitation

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