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Disease Note. Infection of Radish in Idaho by Beet Leafhopper Transmitted Virescence Agent. M. E. Shaw, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis. D. A. Golino, and B. C. Kirkpatrick. USDA-ARS, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis. Plant Dis. 74:252. Accepted for publication 5 December 1989. Copyright 1990 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-74-0252A. In 1988, approximately 10% of radishes (Raphanus sativus L.) grown
in seed field near Moscow, Idaho, had symptoms of virescence,
phyllody, and reduced seed set. Pleomorphic, membrane-bound
mycoplasmalike organisms (MLOs) were observed in the phloem sieve
elements of infected plants. Healtby Circulifer tenellus (Baker)
transmitted a virecence agent from the radisb plants to periwinkle
(Catharanthus roseus (L.) O. Don), and transmission to daikon
(R. sativus cv. Longipinnatus) caused a premature induction of
flowering. Vector specificity, symptomatology, and detection of MLOs
in the phloem of infected plants all suggest that the disease is caused
by the beet leafhopper transmilled virescence agent (BLTVA) (1).
Characteristic symptoms on inoculated wild tobacco (Nicotiana rustica
L.), plantain (Plantago L. sp.), and celery (Apium graveolens L.)
support this diagnosis. In addition, infected plants were positive by
ELISA using a polyclonal antiserum to the BLTVA (2). |