Ash Yellows - Phytoplasma

Ash Yellows, Witches' brooms on trunk
UC - Davis, Pests of the Garden and Small Farm - Puplication #3332

HOSTS: Ash (Fraxinus).

DESCRIPTION: Infected ash trees show a variety of symptoms. The most dramatic field symptom is the presence of witches' brooms on the trunk and major limbs. Leaves on the broom tend to be small and chlorotic; the branches do not have a dominant shoot but are made up of many shoots. After several years of minimal growth, leaves will only appear in tufts at the end of branches.

LIFE CYCLE: The disease is caused by a phytoplasma, a prokaryotic organism similar to a bacteria, but simpler in structure. Phytoplasmas live in the phloem tissues of trees and infect trees systemically. Insects such as leafhoppers, spittlebugs, and psyllids are the major carriers of infection.

CONTROLS: Remove infected trees if badly infected.


Missoula County Extension Office; Missoula, MT  59808 - Updated for 2006