
%0 Journal Article
%A Harding, RM 
%A Teakle, DS 
%T Mycoplasma-like organisms as causal agents of potato purple top wilt in Queensland
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1985/06/01
%V 36
%N 3
%P 443-449
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9850443
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9850443 
%X The eggplant little-leaf agent was graft transmitted to tomato causing big-bud symptoms. Transmission from the big-bud tomato to potato by grafting or the leafhopper Orosius argentatus resulted in the development of purple top wilt symptoms. Thin-section electron microscopy revealed mycoplasma-like organisms present in the phloem sieve elements of a big-bud tomato plant and purple top wilt potato plants infected by grafting or leafhoppers. When tubers from graft-infected potato plants were planted, 73% produced spindly shoots and 44% of these later developed purple top wilt symptoms. When scions from either field-infected or experimentally infected potato plants showing purple top wilt symptoms were grafted onto tomato plants, 24% and 62% respectively developed big-bud symptoms. The results provide strong evidence for the mycoplasmal aetiology of some, if not all, potato purple top wilt in Queensland. 
