Spiroplasma citri-induced lethal wilting of periwinkles is prevented by prior or simultaneous infection of the periwinkle by an MLO.
S. citri can be cultured from periwinkles naturally infected in the field and showing typical mycoplasma-like organism (MLO) symptoms such as flower virescence. Such plants are undoubtedly infected with both S. citri and with one MLO, the latter being responsible for the symptoms. To verify this hypothesis, the following experiments were carried out. Periwinkles were infected with both S. citri and one of three different MLO by graft inoculations. The three MLO were those of phyllody virescence, flower dwarfing and chloranty virescence. Periwinkles singly infected with S. citri showed lethal wilting 6 weeks after inoculation. Plants first inoculated with S. citri and four weeks later with an MLO developed wilting twelve weeks after the inoculation with S. citri. Plants first inoculated with an MLO and later with S. citri did not develop wilting and were protected. The presence of S. citri in these plants was demonstrated by the ELISA test and by culture of the spiroplasma. Similar results were obtained when S. citri and the MLO were inoculated at the same time.
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010935:Plant Diseases; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology*; D013149:Spiroplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*