Abstract
Thin section electron micrographs of phloem from the ornamental cactus Opuntia tuna monstrosa revealed the presence of wall-less prokaryotic cells earlier described as mycoplasma-like bodies (1). Isolation and growth of the microorganism in liquid media yielded cultures of a spiroplasma, as ascertained by darkfield microscopy. Negatively stained spiroplasmas (Fig. 1) were reminiscent of Spiroplasma citri (2) and of corn stunt spiroplasma (3). The spirals observed in negatively stained preparations seemed attached to blebs. PAGE analysis showed distinct differences between the three species of microorganisms. Serological tests confirm ed that the spiroplasma isolated from the ornamental cactus differed from S. citri and from corn stunt spiroplasma. On agar media, “fried-egg” colonies were formed (Fig. 2).
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Claims 3
Claim · model-written summary
Wall-less prokaryotic cells were seen in Opuntia phloem.
- Taxon
- Opuntia tuna monstrosa
Opuntia tunae0 - Organ / stage
- phloeme0
- Outcome
- presence of wall-less prokaryotic cellse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“phloem from the ornamental cactus Opuntia tuna monstrosa revealed the presence of wall-less prokaryotic cells”
Claim · model-written summary
The microorganism isolated from Opuntia was identified as a spiroplasma.
- Interactor
- spiroplasma
Spiroplasmae0pathogen - Outcome
- cultures of a spiroplasmae0
OpuntiaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Isolation and growth of the microorganism in liquid media yielded cultures of a spiroplasma”
t0“Spiroplasma Isolated From Opuntia”
Claim · model-written summary
The Opuntia spiroplasma differed from S. citri and corn stunt spiroplasma in PAGE and serological tests.
- Taxon
- spiroplasmaSpiroplasmae0
- Outcome
- distinct differencese0
- Comparator
- S. citri and from corn stunt spiroplasmae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“PAGE analysis showed distinct differences between the three species of microorganisms. Serological tests confirm ed that the spiroplasma isolated from the ornamental cactus differed from S. citri and from corn stunt spiroplasma.”