Parry's disease of pears is similar to pear decline and is associated with mycoplasma‐like organisms transmitted by <i>Cacopsylla pyricola</i>

Abstract

Mycoplasma‐like organisms (MLOs) were detected by fluorescence microscopy in a number of pear cultivars and pear seedlings growing under a range of different conditions. In the cultivar Conference, MLOs were consistently associated with symptoms of Parry's disease, a decline‐like disease of young trees with quince rootstocks. MLO‐free pear seedlings rapidly became infected when they were planted outside. Experimental transmission of MLOs to pear seedlings and Conference trees was achieved using pear psyllids, caught outside or raised on infected plants under controlled conditions. Conference trees in an orchard trial remained free from the severe spring symptoms of Parry's disease when they were protected from feeding insects during spring of the previous year. MLOs were graft transmissible, but were not perpetuated by the standard propagation practices of budding or grafting when quince rootstocks were used. Parry's disease appears to be similar to pear decline, an MLO‐induced disease well established in several other parts of the world. It is suggested that Parry's disease should be referred to as pear decline.