Bermudagrass chlorosis

Bermudagrass chlorosis is a pathological condition caused by phytoplasma organisms that infect various grass species. The pathogen is transmitted primarily by insect vectors, such as leafhoppers, which acquire the phytoplasma while feeding on the sap of infected plants and subsequently transmit it to healthy hosts.

The primary hosts of this disease are members of the Poaceae family. While the infection is named after its impact on Bermuda grass, it frequently spreads to adjacent forage grasses and wild weed species, which act as critical reservoirs for the pathogen throughout the growing season.

Symptoms of the disease are characterized by systemic chlorosis or yellowing of the leaf tissues, resulting from the degradation of chlorophyll. Infected plants exhibit stunted growth, excessive proliferation of shoots, and leaf deformation, all of which severely impair the plant's photosynthetic capacity.

The development and spread of the disease are highly dependent on environmental conditions that favor the activity of insect vectors. Increased temperature and humidity create optimal conditions for leafhopper populations to thrive, leading to more frequent transmission events within agricultural and turfgrass systems.

The economic impact of this disease is significant, manifesting in reduced biomass yield and lowered nutritional quality of fodder. Management strategies include:

• Removal of infected plant material.
• Control of grass weeds serving as reservoirs.
• Application of insecticides to reduce vector populations.
• Utilization of disease-resistant grass cultivars.