Phyllody

Phyllody on a purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Phyllody is the abnormal development of floral parts into leafy structures. It is generally caused by phytoplasma or virus infections,[1] though it may also be because of environmental factors that result in an imbalance in plant hormones.[2] Phyllody causes the affected plant to become partially or entirely sterile, as it is unable to produce normal flowers.[1][3]

The condition is also known as phyllomorphy or frondescence;[4] though the latter may sometimes refer more generically to foliage, leafiness, or the process of leaf growth. Phyllody is usually differentiated from floral virescence, wherein the flowers merely turn green in color but otherwise retain their normal structure.[5] However, floral virescence and phyllody (along with witch's broom and other growth abnormalities), commonly occur together as symptoms of the same diseases.[6] The term chloranthy is also often used for phyllody (particularly flowers exhibiting complete phyllody, such that it resembles leaf buds more than flowers), though in some cases it may refer to floral virescence.[7]

  1. ^ a b Mor, Y.; Zieslin, N. (1992). "Phyllody Malformation in Flowers of Rosa × hybrida cv. 'Motrea' : Effects of Rootstocks, Flower Position, Growth Regulators and Season". Journal of Experimental Botany. 43: 89–93. doi:10.1093/jxb/43.1.89.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference sim2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Trivedi, P.C. (2006). Advances In Plant Physiology. I.K. International Pvt Ltd. p. 31. ISBN 9788188237692.
  4. ^ Weberling, F. (1992). Morphology of Flowers and Inflorescences. CUP Archive. p. 141. ISBN 9780521438322.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference masters was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Hogenhout, S.A.; Šeruga Musić, M. (2010). "Phytoplasma Genomics, from Sequencing to Comparative and Functional Genomics – What Have We Learnt?". In Weintraub, P.G.; Jones, P. (eds.). Phytoplasmas: Genomes, Plant Hosts and Vectors. CABI. pp. 19–37. ISBN 9781845935306.
  7. ^ Shastri, V. (2005). Academic Dictionary Of Biology. Isha Books. ISBN 9788182051874.