Nano-Management of Phytoplasma Diseases in Horticultural Plants: A Short Communication

Elmahrouk, Mohamed; Seliem, Mayada Kadry; El-Ramady, Hassan

doi:10.21608/jenvbs.2021.97228.1144

Nano-Management of Phytoplasma Diseases in Horticultural Plants: A Short Communication

Document Type : Comments

Authors

¹ Horticulture Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh Uni., Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

² Ornamental and Floriculture Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Antoniades, Alexandria 21599, Egypt

³ Soil and Water Dept., Kafrelsheikh Uni.

10.21608/jenvbs.2021.97228.1144

Abstract

Phytoplasma and its associated plant diseases is a serious threat to the production of several horticultural crops, which leads to severe losses in the yield worldwide. Phytoplasmas could be considered “one of the most molecularly enigmatic genera of plant pathogens” due to the lack in complete knowledge about “phytoplasma-host–pathogen–vector interactions” and the inability to culture them successfully in vitro. The main problem of phytoplasma is the serious economic losses in diverse cultivated crops, which associated with phytoplasma diseases particularly the horticultural crops (i.e., vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants), as well as oil crops, cereals, sugarcane, cassava, spices, etc. Several reports have published about the impacts of phytoplasma diseases in different horticultural crops all over the world, which may cause economic losses up to 100% under severe epidemics like phytoplasma associated-disease of grape in Europe “Flavescence dorée”. Therefore, the management of phytoplasma has gain a great concern worldwide depending on all levels. This is a call by EBSS for articles about the phytoplasmas and their impacts on horticultural crops as well as any further studies on epidemiology and developing epidemiological models for spreading and distribution alarming phytoplasma diseases, which should be carried out to devise strategies against phytoplasma epidemics. There are many open questions regarding phytoplasma in horticultural crops especially the very complex relationship in the host–pathogen–insect interactions, as well as the management of phytoplasma-infected crops. Can nano-diagnosis and control be being an effective in management of phytoplasma diseases and their pathogens particularly at the early stage?

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