Brief note on the transmission of Mycoplasma-like bodies (MLBs)

Transmission:

The MLBs (Mycoplasma like bodies) are transmitted by following means:

1. By Dodder:

When the Cuscuta, which is a total stem parasite, takes food from a plant infected by Mycoplasma, the organisms enter into the parasite. When this infected parasite attacks healthy plant, the Mycoplasma enters into that plant and causes infection.

2. By Grafting:

When the infected plant is grafted to a healthy plant the Mycoplasma enters into the healthy plant.

3. By Man:

Fanners come in contact with healthy and infected plants. Mycoplasma can be transferred from the infected plant to the healthy plant by the hands of the farmer.

4. By Grasshoppers:

Mycoplasma is present in the bodies of the Grasshoppers. When the grasshopper takes food from the healthy plant, Mycoplasma enters into that plant and causes infection.

Plant Diseases:

40 diseases have been reported in plants caused by Mycoplasma. The plants infected by Mycoplasma show different symptoms:

1. Leaves become chlorotic or due to the presence of anthocyanin pigments turn red.

2. Shape of leaves becomes short.

3. Leaves become brittle.

4. Flowers turn leaf-like.

5. Internodes become small.

6. Buds are produced in large number and mature before time.

Some important diseases of plants caused by Mycoplasma are :

(i) Aster’s yellow, (ii) Blue berry stunt, (iii) Corn stunt (iv) Dwarf diseases of mulberry ,(v) Potato witches’ broom, (vi) Little leaf of brinjal, (vii) Sandal spike, (viii) Clover phyllody, (ix) Clover virescence, (x) Cotton virescence, (xi) Bunchy top of Papaya, (xii) Stripe disease of sugar cane, (xiii) Yellow dwarf of tobacco. Control of Disease

1. To prevent diseases caused by Mycoplasma, the cut ends of grafting plants should be treated by antibiotics like Tetracyclin, Chloromycetin etc.

2. Disease can also be controlled by heat treatment.

3. Antibiotics can be used on the underground parts of the grass.

4. Sulphur drugs are also advantageous.

Diseases caused by Mycoplasma in Human beings:

Name of Disease – A typical pneumonia inflammation of genital.

Causative Organism – Mycoplasma pneumonia, Mycoplasma hominis

Diseases caused by Mycoplasma in Animals

Name of Disease – Bovino pneumonia

Name of Disease – Aqalctiaof sheep and mycoide

Causative Organism – Mycoplasma and Mycoide respectively.