Purple top roll disease of potato

A graft transmissible disease of potato termed purple top roll is prevalent in several potato varieties grown in the hilly tracts of India. The common symptoms are rolling of the basal parts of younger leaves, sometimes accompanied by pink or purple pigmentation. The plants are stunted with profuse growth of axillary branches and aerial tubers. The losses in yield varied from 40 to 70%. Five to 20% of the tubers from diseased plants developed hairy sprouts. Tuber transmission of the pathogen varied from 6 to 33%, depending on the variety.Datura, tomato and white clover are among susceptible plants.N. rustica was tolerant or a symptomless carrier. Sunnhemp, Petunia andSesamum were immune to the pathogen, which was transmitted by the leaf hopper,O. albicinctus Distant but not byCuscuta spp. or by sap inoculation. Application of Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline and Antiamoebin resulted in remission of symptoms and increased tuber yields, indicating possible association of a mycoplasma-like organism.