Phytoplasmas are a worldwide issue in plant health. A range of serious diseases are caused by these bacteria in major crops around the globe. Knowledge of the importance of phytoplasmas as plant disease agents has advanced rapidly over the last decade with an increased interest in the impact of these pathogens on important field and horticultural crops as well as ornamental plants.
This comprehensive volume brings together current research on phytoplasmas, covering their biology, taxonomy and genomics as well as their interactions with plant hosts and transmission by vectors.
1. General Introduction
2. Molecular Aspects
3. Introduction to molecular aspects
Detection methods
Phytoplasma sequencing
Functional genomics
Taxonomy of the phytoplasmas: use of the 16s rRNA gene
Phytoplasma Phylogeny and detection using SecA and genes other than the 16s
The 16Sr IV group phytoplasmas and their diseases
4 .Plant-Phytoplasma Interactions
Worldwide impact of phytoplasma diseases
Plant resistance
Biochemical changes in plants
Movement of phytoplasmas and the development of disease in the plant
Phytoplasma diseases of the Gramineae
Multiple plant hosts
Vector-Phytoplasma Interactions
Introduction to vectors and the implications of climate change
Symbiotic control of phytoplasma vectors
5. Vector control through plant lectins
Differential phytoplasma acquisition by vectors
Psyllid vectors and their control