Brinjal little leaf disease is caused by the phytoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii, which infects the phloem of brinjal plants. The disease was first reported in India in 1939 and causes significant yield losses up to 90%. Symptoms include reduced and shortened leaves, excessive branching, and stunting of plants. The disease spreads through the brown leaf hopper Cestius phycitis, which acquires the phytoplasma by feeding on infected plants and transmits it to other brinjal plants. Management strategies include removing infected plants, controlling the leaf hopper vector with insecticides, and using resistant brinjal varieties.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3)
Kullapuram (Po), ViaVaigai Dam, Theni-625 562
BRINJAL LITTLE LEAF
Student: Course teacher:
NEEMA V.H Dr.Parthasarathy.S,
2015021089 Asst. Professor (Plant Pathology)

2. Host : Brinjal
Disease : Brinjal little leaf
Casual organism: Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii
Vector : Brown leaf hopper (Cestius phycitis)

3. SIGNIFICANCE
Disease was first reported in the central farm,
Coimbatore by Thomas and Krishnaswamy (1939)
Occurred in all states of India
Loss – till 90%

4. SYMPTOMS
 Reduction in size of leaves
 Shortened petioles
 Excessive growth of branches general stunting of
plants
 Conversion of floral parts into leafy structures
 Plants become bushy
 Fruiting is rare

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7. Causal organism
 Phytoplasma – egg or circular shaped
 Diameter- 40-300 nm
Lacking – cell wall
Present in sieve tubes of phloem
Transmitted by insect-Brown leaf hopper (Cestius phycitis)
Survive on weeds

8. Taxonomy
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Tenericutes
Class: Mollicutes
Order: Acholeplasmatales
Family: Acholeplasmataceae
Genus: Candidatus Phytoplasma
Species: Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii

9. Vector
Brown leaf hopper (Cestius phycitis)
Adult: Small light brown leaf hopper

10. Mode of spread and survival
The disease is transmitted by leaf hoppers
(Hishimonas phycitis /Cestius phycitis) and
grafting.
It spreads through weed host

11. IDM
• Remove infected plants and destroy them
• Spraying Malathion 0.05 % to kill the leaf
hoppers will check the spread.
• Use Tetracycline (10 ppm to 50 ppm) or
Chloramphenicol (50 to 100 ppm ) antibiotics to
reduce the incidence.

12. • The antibiotics give temporary control of the
disease.
Varieties like Arka Sheel, Aushy, Banaras Giant,
Manjari Gota, and Pusa Purple Cluster are
moderately resistant