Experimental Infection of Various Latex Plants of the Family Asclepiadaceae with Phytomonas elmassiani

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Trypanosomatid‐free plants of the family Asclepiadaceae identified as Asclepias syriaca, A. curassavica, A. incarnata, Stephanotis floribunda, Seutera maritima, Amphistelma scoparia and plants of the family Euphorbiaceae identified as Euphorbia tirucalli, E. trigona, and Pedilanthus tithymaloides were exposed to the bite of the bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, infected with Phytomonas elmassiani, a flagellate which occurs naturally in A. syriaca and O. fasciatus. Two weeks subsequent to exposure to laboratory‐infected oncopeltids all the experimental Asclepiadaceae were infected. The mean length of the protozoa varied depending on the host plant. The flagellates in A. syriaca, A. curassavica, and A. incarnata were shorter than those in S. floribunda, S. maritima, and A. scoparia. None of the Euphorbiaceae became infected.

Observation of Flagellate Protozoa (Phytomonas sp.) in Cocos nucifera, Cecropia palmata and Euphorbia hirta

“…from different host species on morphological characters. Their form may vary according to stages in the life cycle and may depend on the plant species and on the physiological state of the host plant (HANSON et al 1966, MCGHEE and HANSON 1971, DOLLET 1984. In our studies both elongated and rounded forms were found in E. hirta plants, whereas the Phytomonas sp.…”

Changes in Structure of Phytomonas elmassiani in Experimental Infections of Apocynaceae, a Presumably Foreign Plant Host

“…Complete details of handling of bugs and procedures of infecting them have been previously described (5). Development of the parasite in L. kalmii was similar in all respects to that observed in 0. fasciatus ( 7 ) .…”

Observations of flagellate protozoa (Phytomonas sp.) in the xylem of Euphorbia lasiocarpa in Ecuador

“…At present, only the sucking insects feeding in the laticiferous tubes are known as transmitting agents of flagellates in latex plants (Hanson et al 1966;Ayala et al 1975). For the oil palm, a root-feeding Pentatomidae hemipter (~a c r o~~g i u m reticulare F.) is suspected (Genty 198 l), but the experimental transmission trials have given negative results.…”