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A Fixation Method for Demonstrating Mycoplasmalike Organisms in Plants. Larry Dale Smith, Graduate Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701; J. L. Dale(2), and K. S. Kim(3). (2)(3)Professor and Assistant Professor, respectively, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701. Phytopathology 66:531-533. Accepted for publication 24 October 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-531.

A comparison of the effect of six different fixation procedures on the ultrastructural appearance of mycoplasmalike organisms (MLO's) in plants indicated that fixation with chrome-osmium consistently produced distinct electron-dense aggregate structures in the central area of the MLO's. The formation of such characteristic structures makes it possible to distinguish MLO's from normal cell components. The results suggest that the chrome-osmium fixative would be useful for the examination of field-collected plants showing yellows type symptoms where the objective is to detect the entities inhabiting such plants.