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Further studies on a spiroplasma isolated from coconut palms in Jamaica
Author(s) -
EDENGREEN S. J.,
ARCHER D. B.,
TULLY J. G.,
WATERS HENRY
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1983.tb02673.x
Subject(s) - spiroplasma , biology , palm , cocos nucifera , serology , mollicutes , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , gel electrophoresis , botany , antibody , mycoplasma , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics
SUMMARY The pathogenicity of a spiroplasma isolated from coconut palms was tested by (1) transmission experiments to palms and other plants susceptible to infection by mycoplasmas, using the suspected vector of lethal yellowing, Myndus crudus , and vectors of the agents of other yellows diseases and (2) enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect spiroplasma antigens in diseased palm tissues. Results of both these tests were negative and, as earlier attempts to repeat the isolations from lethal yellowing diseased palms had also been unsucessful, it was concluded that this organism was not the causal agent of lethal yellowing disease. Further analysis by serological tests and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of spiroplasma proteins confirmed that the coconut isolates were related to members of the Spiroplasma citri serogroup but were distinct from other strains tested.