Phytopathogenic Mollicutes

The diseases associated with peanut witches’ broom phytoplasmas are observed in several legume crops and weed species with typical phyllody and witches’ broom symptoms. The presence of a phytoplasma strains belonging to 16SrII-D subgroup is reported in the common Indian weed Croton bonplandianum showing witches’ broom and phyllody. C. bonplandianum is producing widespread infestations in agriculture fields and barren lands and then pose a serious threat as possible secondary host of this phytoplasma. This is the first identification of a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma australasia’-related strains in C. bonplandianum showing witches’ broom symptoms.