Hishimonas aurifascialis, H. chinesis, and H. sellatus
None of these insect vectors are known to be present in the United States.

Symptoms include the characteristic witches’ broom appearance, in which the plant produces numerous small shoots with smaller than normal leaf size and yellowish green foliage, shortened internodes and excessive branching (Yu et al., 2012). Infection creates a typical yellow dwarf symptom in the whole plant, fruits may shrivel and prematurely drop, and the disease may commonly lead to decline and premature plant death (Wang et al., 2015).

Survey during the growing season when symptoms are most likely to be visible.

Survey where hosts are present.

Follow instructions for Phytoplasma Sample Screening and Confirmation on the Procedures and Techniques page.

If you have taken the hands-on phytoplasma specific training at S&T Beltsville lab, you can screen your own phytoplasma samples. Note: You will still have to follow the protocol in the linked document for confirmations.