Phytopathogenic Mollicutes

Sesame phyllody disease incidence was recorded as 19.47% and 21.10% and highest leafhopper vector (Hishimonus phycitis) populations as 5.4 and 6.2 insects per 5 sweeps in November during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Disease incidence was highly negatively correlated with maximum, minimum and average temperature, day temperature, night temperature, diurnal variation and heat sum pertaining to the previous week and fortnightly interval. Strong positive correlation was observed between leafhopper population and the sesame phyllody disease incidence. The disease could be predicted correctly up to 86% with vector population 14 days before disease and up to 98–99% by addition of maximum, minimum, average or day temperature to the equation.