FIRST REPORT ON THE OCCURRENCE AND SYMPTOMATOLOGY OF PHYLLODY DISEASE IN JUTE (Corchorus olitorius L.) AND ITS PLANT CHARACTERISTICS IN TURKEY

Abstract

Although jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) is treated as a weed in Turkey, it is cultivated and harvested for its fiber, tender shoots, and leaves in Africa and Asia. We report the occurrence and symptomatology of phyllody disease in jute observed for the first time in 2010 during our studies focusing on sesame phyllody in an experimental field at the Akdeniz University Campus, Antalya, Turkey. The disease was also observed in the following two years, 2011 and 2012. In the top of the infected jute plant, the internodes were shortened which resulted a cluster of leaves in smaller size than the normal ones, and the leaves were crinkled as well as turned to yellowing and leathery-looking. Additionally, the large leaves accumulated more anthocyanin in their margins. The floral organs abnormally developed into leafy structures; and ovaries at the symptomatic part enlarged but stamens and filaments did not show any symptoms. There was neither proliferation of the branches nor needle-like shape of the leaves in our case. Jute and sesame seeds started germination synchronously, and looked similar at the cotyledonary stage. Wild plants or weeds deserve a particular attention for disease development or inoculum build-up in cultivated crops. Considering the voluntary nature, jute may be an alternative for biofuel production. Also, the similarity in developmental stages of jute and sesame suggests that they might be affected by the same phytoplasma. To verify this, molecular analyses have been started.