Tomato big bud disease found in Greece
The question on the identity of tomato big bud MLO is not fully resolved and its possible relationship with potato stolbur MLO (EPPO A2 quarantine pest) has to be considered.
In Greece, big bud disease of tomato has been described now for the first time. Further test showed that mycoplasma-like organisms were associated with the disease. Electron microscopy, fluorescence and bright-field microscopy, transmission test and antibiotic treatments showed that pleomorphic mycoplasma-like organisms (MLOs) were present in the sieve tubes of infected tomato plants. The author assumes that due to the natural spread of the disease one or several vectors of the MLO must be present in Greece.
Potato stolbur MLO has been reported from Greece already in 1990
This item has been available in INFOEPPO since 1993-05-24!
Sources
Alivizatos, A.S. (1993) Association of mycoplasma-like organisms with tomato big bud disease in Greece.
Plant Pathology 42, 158-162.