VIEW ARTICLE

Chemotherapy of Aster Yellows: Tetracycline-Hydrochloride Uptake by Healthy and Diseased Plants. M. Klein, Postdoctoral Fellow, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Yonkers, New York 10701, Present address of senior author: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel; R. J. Frederick(2), and K. Maramorosch(3). (2)Warner-Lambert Research Institute, Department of Microbiology, Morris Plains, New Jersey 07950; (3)Program Director, Insect Physiology and Virology, Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Yonkers, New York 10701. Phytopathology 62:111-115. Accepted for publication 5 August 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-62-111.

Measurable amounts of tetracycline-hydrochloride were translocated to leaves of aster yellows-affected aster plants when roots were immersed in a solution of the antibiotic. Pronounced remission of symptoms occurred, but phytotoxicity, especially in healthy controls, often resulted in death. Application by soil drenching was ineffective. Foliage spraying did not induce recovery of diseased asters, and caused chlorosis of young leaves on healthy plants. Tetracycline-hydrochloride could not be detected in plants after undamaged leaves were immersed in high concentrations of the antibiotic. A considerable amount of antibiotic was acquired through cut leaves subsequently immersed in the test solutions. Healthy plants treated in this fashion developed severe chlorosis. Glycerol and Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate), used as adjuvants, had no significant effect on antibiotic uptake through roots or through wounded (cut) leaves.