Occurrence of a tomato yellows disease caused by mycoplasma-like organisms in Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures, Japan

Abstract

Yellows disease of tomato plants has been reported to be associated with mycoplasmalike organisms (MLO), and is of increasing concern in Europe. The occurrence of yellows disease in Japan has already been reported by Oshima and Okuda. In Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefecture, yellows disease was discovered in the tomato plants under forcing culure in a plastic house in Febuary, 1979. Symptoms of the infected tomato plants were progressively new leaves smaller, rolled upward and colorless. Sometimes, several branches became stunted and developed rosette forms. The infectious agent was apparently transmitted in tomato plants by grafting. MLO were observed in phloem elements of both field and graft-infected tomato plants with symptoms of yellows disease. No insect vectors have yet been discovered.