Candidatus Phytoplasma: New Microbe Threatens Sesame Crops

A new microbe, Candidatus Phytoplasma, has emerged as a significant threat to sesame crops in Midnapore, West Bengal. Known for its nutritional value and termed the "Queen of Oil," sesame faces declining yields due to this wall-less bacterium, which spreads through sap-sucking insects. Researchers at Bose Institute identified the disease, which causes flowers to revert to a vegetative state. This poses economic and sustainability challenges for sesame cultivation, demanding urgent solutions to secure its future.