Plant parasitic microorganism Phytoplasma

It can cause you trouble when your hydrangea does not color like ordinary years, or stays green even though the flowers are in bloom. In such case, your plant could have a disease called hydrangea phyllody disease, caused by Phytoplasma.
Phytoplasma disease, including hydrangea phyllody disease, is caused by microorganism called “Phytoplasma” parasitic on plants. This microorganism is transmitted by insects such as leafhoppers and is also infected by vegetative propagation such as grafting.
Typical examples that caused by Phytoplasma are Hydrangea phyllody disease that affects hydrangea, and witches’ broom that affects sweet potatoes.
In tropical regions, Phytoplasma has become problematic by infecting coconut palms dying from Phytoplasma disease that has severe effects on people’s daily life.
If a plant is infected with phytoplasma disease, it will die within a few years, and if left untreated, the infection will spread around the infected plant.
Therefore, control measures such as removal of infected plants are important.
Nippon Gene has a lineup of kits that offer the detection of phytoplasma with simple diagnostic techniques.