What are phytoplasmas?
Q: What are phytoplasmas?
A: Phytoplasmas are a type of parasitic bacteria.
Q: Which plants are affected by phytoplasmas?
A: Phytoplasmas are pathogens of economically important plants, including coconut, sugarcane, and sandalwood.
Q: Where do phytoplasmas infect in plants?
A: Phytoplasmas are obligate parasites of plant phloem tissue.
Q: How are phytoplasmas transmitted?
A: Phytoplasmas are transmitted by insects which inject them into the plant cells.
Q: When were phytoplasmas discovered and what were they originally named?
A: Phytoplasmas were discovered by scientists in 1967 and were named mycoplasma-like organisms or MLOs.
Q: Can phytoplasmas be grown in laboratory conditions?
A: No, phytoplasmas cannot be grown in vitro (in laboratory conditions).
Q: How are phytoplasmas described in terms of difficulty?
A: Phytoplasmas are described by the special term "Candidatus", reserved for such difficult organisms.
