VIEW ARTICLE

Etiology

Maintenance In Vitro of the Aster Yellows Mycoplasmalike Organism. A. J. Smith, University of Florida Agricultural Research Center, 3205 S.W. College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33314; R. E. McCoy(2), and J. H. Tsai(3). (2)(3)University of Florida Agricultural Research Center, 3205 S.W. College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33314. Phytopathology 71:819-822. Accepted for publication 5 January 1981. Copyright 1981 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-71-819.

Longevity in vitro of the aster yellows mycoplasmalike organism (AYO) isolated from the leafhopper vector, Macrosteles fascifrons, was determined by an infectivity assay after incubation in isolation media in which the factors of pH and osmolarity were varied. Longest in vitro survival, up to 72 hr, occurred at a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (pH 7.0–7.5) and high osmolarity (800–1,000 mOs/kg). At pH greater than 7.5, at any osmolarity tested, survival of the AYO was minimal. The addition of spermine (10 μg/ml) appeared to enhance maintenance at suboptimal osmolarity.