Abstract

Studies carried out on the transmission of little leaf mycoplasma of Solanum melongena by Hishimonus phycitis revealed that the minimum acquisition and inocula tion feeding period was one hour each, while the optimum was 24 and 48 hr respectively. A minimum incubation period of 15 days was observed to be essential in" the vector for successful transmission. However, the vector reached the maximum transmitting ability after an incubation period of 23 days. The optimum incubation period of the mycoplasma in the host plant was recorded to be 35.67 days. There was no transovarial transmission of the mycoplasma. A single vector was able to transmit the causal organism, although the maximum percentage of infection in the test plants was achieved only when five vectors were used per plant.

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