Corn Stunt Spiroplasma and Viruses Associated with a Maize Disease Epidemic in Southern Florida. O. E. Bradfute, Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. J. H. Tsai, University of Florida Agricultural Research and Education Center, Fort Lauderdale 33314; and D. T. Gordon, Department of Plant Pathology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster 44691. Plant Dis. 65:837-841. Accepted for publication 30 July 1981. Copyright 1981 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-65-837.

In 1979 and 1980, a severe disease complex was observed in fall-planted maize in southern Florida. Assays revealed spiroplasmas, presumed to be corn stunt spiroplasmas, in most of the plants. In some plants, maize rayado fino virus, maize stripe virus, maize dwarf mosaic virus (strain B), and novel, straight, tubular viruslike particles (about 720 nm long) were found. Pathogens were found in all plants with diagnostic symptoms and in some plants with only symptoms of a coinfecting pathogen or unidentified symptoms. This is the first evidence of a high incidence of spiroplasmas associated with a severe maize disease in the United States.

Keyword(s): Dalbulus maidis, Exitianus exitiosus, Graminella nigrifrons, Peregrinus maidis.