Abstract

Little leaf disease resulting in a large number of abnormal, highly reduced bushy shoots from the nodes of newly emerged culms of Dendrocalamus strictus was recorded in natural stands in the dry tracts of Kerala State. The disease severity ranged from low to medium and disease incidence varied from 9. 3 to 90. The disease affected stand productivity considerably. Histopathological, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the presence of mycoplasma-like-organisms (MLOs) [phytoplasmas] in the phloem of diseased tissues. Attempts to isolate and culture the MLOs in semisynthetic medium failed. Tetracycline hydrochloride (0. 5 g/250 ml) therapy showed temporary remission of the disease for a period of 3 months