Mango malformation disease in Egypt. 2. Studies on transmission and thermotherapy.
Kishtah A. A., Eid S. A., Nasr El-Din T. M.
Author Affiliation: Pl. Virus Res. Section, Inst. Pl. Path., Agric. Res. Cent., Giza, Egypt.
Egyptian Journal of Phytopathology 17 : 159-164
Abstract : This disease was not transmitted by grafting from scion to rootstock or from stock to scion. Seedlings grown from seeds of malformed trees remained healthy when kept in the glasshouse for 2 yr. Within 1 yr of being transferred to the field 2 of these seedling developed the disease, indicating a natural means of spread. Seedlings grown for 2 yr in sterilized or unsterilized soil from around the roots of diseased trees did not show the symptoms. Heat treatment at 50 and 60°C for varying periods did not free the budwood from the malformation agent. It is concluded that neither a virus nor a mycoplasma causes this disease.