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ASTER YELLOWS
Aster yellows is a virus-like disease caused by an insect-transmitted mycoplasma that infects flax and many other plants. The disease is prevalent in major flax-growing regions of the United States and Canada, but a relatively low percentage of plants are infected most years. Aster yellows cause minor yield losses. All flax varieties are considered susceptible to infection and there are no practical control measures.
Plants infected with aster yellows are yellow and stunted with contorted foliage, distorted and proliferated floral parts. Plants infected during the seedling stage develop prominent yellow, star-shaped flowers and fail to form bolls or seed.
Usually the entire plant is involved, but sometimes only a portion of the plant appears to be infected. The mycoplasma is spread by the six-spotted leafhopper, so disease epidemics are associated with an early influx of this insect.
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