Abstract

Free-hand sections of spike-disease-affected sandal (Santalum album) and its hosts were stained with the DNA-binding fluorochrome, 4, 6, diamidino-2-phenyl indole (DAPI), to detect the presence of phytoplasma. Yellow-green fluorescence was detected in the phloem of diseased sandal, while the phloem tissue of healthy sandal and host plants growing close to the spike-disease-affected sandal in the field as well as in the glasshouse did not show fluorescence. The intensity of fluorescence was high in the young stem and inner bark compared with the root, petiole and leaf. DAPI was more efficient in phytoplasma detection compared with Dienes' stain