A natural infection of Hebe is associated with an isolate of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' causing a yellowing and little-leaf disease in the UK
Abstract
Hebe (Veronica scutellata) is a herbaceous ornamental perennial widely grown throughout the UK and elsewhere. In 2005, symptoms of yellowing and little leaf were observed on a bush, that was more than 20 years old, growing on the Rothamsted estate in Hertfordshire, UK. The symptoms, which were prevalent on shoots produced by branches which had rooted from the main bush, had shortened internodes, little leaves and yellowing of the foliage. This is thought to be the first record of a phytoplasma infecting V. scutellata and the first definitive record of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' in the UK.
Citation
Jones, P.; Arocha, Y. A natural infection of Hebe is associated with an isolate of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ causing a yellowing and little-leaf disease in the UK. Plant Pathology (2006) 55 (6) 821-821. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2006.01479.x]