New phytoplasma disease of olive in Spain
In Spain, a new disease has been observed since 1993 in several olive orchards near Badajóz (Extremadura). Affected trees showed abnormal shoots, shortened internodes and proliferation (witches' broom). In 1997, analysis (PCR using universal primers) revealed the presence of phytoplasmas belonging to the stolbur group in diseased olive trees. It is suspected that the cicadellid Hyalesthes obsoletus can transmit the phytoplasma in the field. This is the first report of a phytoplasma disease of olive in Spain. It is recalled that a similar disease (olive witches' broom) has recently been reported in central Italy (EPPO RS 97/195).
Sources
Font, I.; Abad, P.; Dally, E.L.; Davis, R.E.; Jordá, C. (1998) Nueva enfermedad en el olivar español.
Phytoma España, no. 102, 211-212.