First report of Phytoplasma associated flattened stem disease on Sapodilla in Rajasthan
Kamna Sharma and Vandana
Department of Botany, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur - 342011 India Email: vandana0612@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Many tree species growing in tropical and subtropical regions are frequently infected by phytoplasma-associated diseases. Phytoplasma is a pleomorphic and cell wall-less microorganism restricted only to the phloem of plants. About 129 plant species related to vegetables, cereals, grasses, fruit trees, weeds etc. are infect by Phytoplasma in India. The present study is the first report of phytoplasma-associated flattened stem disease on Sapota tree growing in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Sapota (Manilkara zapota) or Sapodilla of the family Sapotaceae is commonly known as Chickoo in India. Disease symptoms such as presence of little leaf, phyllody, proliferation of axillary buds (witches broom), sterility of flowers, and stem flattening were reported in branches of infected sapota tree. There is a strong possibility that Sapota was infected by locusts which attacked several areas of western Rajasthan during the year 2020-21.