Global InformationPapaya Bunchy Top Disease information
Papaya Bunchy Top Disease was first discovered in 1931 in Puerto Rico.[1] Early on, the identity of the pathogen was highly contested due to the inability of isolating it; thus Koch’s postulates could not be fulfilled.[1] Scientists have previously believed that Papaya Bunchy Top Disease was caused by a virus, a mycoplasma-like organism (MLO), or a phytoplasma, but these possible pathogens have since been disproven.[1] Since the identity of the pathogen was unknown, all diagnoses were given solely based on a list of commonly associated symptoms.[1] Through sequencing and microscopy, scientists identified the pathogen to be a part of the genus Rickettsia in 1996.[1] The bacterium is described as being rod-shaped, small, gram-negative, and laticifer-inhibiting. Rickettsia causes diseases in animals, such as typhus and spotted fever,[2] as well as in other plants, such as phony disease of peach and almond leaf scorch.[3] Papaya Bunchy Top is found throughout the American tropics and has been economically important due to its major impact on fruit production.[4] There is little information about the current economic impact.
- ^ a b c d e Davis, M. J. 1996. [1] Davis, M. J.; Kramer, J. B.; Ferwerda, F. H.; Brunner, B. R. (1996). "Association of a Bacterium and Not a Phytoplasma with Papaya Bunchy Top Disease" (PDF). 86 (1): 102–109.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Rathore, Mobeen H. 2016. [2] Rathore, Mobeen (14 June 2016). "Rickettsial Infection". Medscape. WebMD.
- ^ Hopins, Donald L. 1977. [3] Hopkins, Donald (2 Dec 2016). "Diseases Caused by Leafhopper-Borne, Rickettsia-Like Bacteria". Annual Review of Phytopathology. 15: 277–294. doi:10.1146/annurev.py.15.090177.001425.
- ^ Agrios, George N. 1969. Agrios, George (1969). Plant Pathology. New York: Elsevier Academic Press. ISBN 978-0120445653.