Trypanosomatid Flagellate in the Phloem of Diseased Coconut Palms
M. V. PARTHASARATHY 1,
W. G. VAN SLOBBE 2, and
CAROLE SOUDANT 3
1 Section of Genetics, Development, and Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
2 Agricultural Experimental Station, Post Office Box 160, Paramaribo, Suriname, South America
3 Section of Genetics, Development, and Physiology, Cornell University, Ithaca
Ultrastructural observations of the phloem of coconut palms affected by "hartrot" disease in Suriname have revealed the presence of the plant-infecting flagellate Phytomonas in mature sieve tubes. The occurrence of these flagellates during the earliest symptoms of the disease and the correlated increase and spread of the flagellates in the phloem as the disease progresses suggest that the organisms may be pathogenic to the palms.
Submitted on February 23, 1976
Revised on April 19, 1976
