Little leaf & phyllody (phytoplasma)
Leafhopper-spread phytoplasmas that make a bushy mass of tiny leaves (brinjal little leaf) or turn flowers into leafy green shoots (sesame phyllody) — with no fruit or seed.
- Pathogen
- Phytoplasma (phloem-limited)
- Spreads by
- Leafhoppers; infected material/dodder
- Favoured by
- High leafhopper numbers; infected sources
- Main risk
- Sterile plants; little/no fruit or seed
Overview
Little leaf and phyllody are disorders caused by phytoplasmas — tiny bacteria-like organisms that live in the plant’s phloem and are spread mainly by leafhoppers (and through infected planting material/dodder). Little leaf of brinjal makes the plant throw a dense, bushy mass of abnormally small leaves on short internodes, with the plant becoming pale, stunted and sterile — it flowers abnormally or not at all and sets little or no fruit. Phyllody of sesame (and some other crops) transforms the flower parts into small green leaf-like structures, so the "flowers" become leafy green shoots that produce no proper capsules or seed.
In both, the affected plant is effectively sterile and lost, and because phytoplasmas cannot be cured in the plant, an infected plant stays a source of the disease. The disorders track their leafhopper vectors and are worse where vector numbers are high and infected plants and weed hosts are around. Management combines roguing out infected plants early, controlling the leafhopper vector, using clean planting material, and removing weed hosts.
How to identify it
- Little leaf (brinjal): a dense, bushy mass of abnormally small leaves on short internodes, plant pale, stunted and sterile.
- Phyllody (sesame): flower parts turned into small green leaf-like structures, so flowers become leafy shoots with no proper capsules/seed.
- Abnormal or absent flowering and little to no fruit or seed on affected plants.
- Scattered affected plants that track leafhopper activity, worse near infected plants and weed hosts.
What causes it and when
- Phytoplasmas — phloem-limited, bacteria-like organisms — spread mainly by leafhoppers, and also through infected planting material and dodder.
- Leafhoppers pick up the phytoplasma from infected plants and weeds and carry it to healthy ones, so spread tracks vector numbers.
- Cannot be cured in the plant, so an infected plant stays a source of the disease.
- Worse where leafhopper populations are high and infected crop and weed hosts are nearby.
Cultural & organic control
- Rogue out and destroy infected plants early, before leafhoppers spread the phytoplasma from them.
- Use clean, healthy planting material and seed, and grow tolerant varieties where available.
- Remove weed hosts and volunteers that harbour the phytoplasma and its leafhoppers.
- Encourage natural enemies of leafhoppers as part of vector management.
Chemical (vector) control
- The phytoplasma cannot be sprayed — target the leafhopper vector to slow spread, especially early in the crop.
- Use CIB&RC-registered insecticides for leafhoppers judiciously (rotating groups), with traps and natural enemies.
- Combine vector control with prompt roguing — killing the leafhopper does not cure an already-infected plant.
- Confirm the current leafhopper-management schedule for your crop with your local KVK.
Prevent it coming back
- Make roguing infected plants, clean planting material and early leafhopper management the routine.
- Remove weed hosts and volunteers between crops to cut the phytoplasma reservoir.
- Use tolerant varieties where available and keep controlling the leafhopper vector.
Crops most at risk
Where this problem is called out in our crop guides — open a crop for the full package of practices.
Frequently asked questions
My brinjal has become a bushy mass of tiny leaves with no fruit. What is it?
A dense, bushy mass of abnormally small leaves on short internodes, with a pale, stunted, sterile plant that sets little or no fruit, is little leaf of brinjal, caused by a phytoplasma spread by leafhoppers. It cannot be cured in the plant, so rogue out and destroy affected plants early, control the leafhopper vector, use clean planting material and tolerant varieties, and remove weed hosts that harbour the phytoplasma and its leafhoppers.
My sesame flowers have turned into little green leafy shoots with no seed. What is it?
That is phyllody, a phytoplasma disorder that transforms the flower parts into small green leaf-like structures, so the "flowers" become leafy shoots and produce no proper capsules or seed. Like little leaf, it is spread by leafhoppers and cannot be cured in the plant. Rogue out affected plants early, manage the leafhopper vector, use clean seed and tolerant varieties where available, and remove weed hosts.
Why can’t I cure little leaf or phyllody with a spray?
Because they are caused by phytoplasmas living inside the plant’s phloem, which no practical spray can cure — an affected plant stays sterile and a source of infection. Insecticide is only worthwhile against the leafhopper vector, to stop it spreading the phytoplasma to still-healthy plants. So control is roguing out infected plants promptly, managing the leafhopper (with clean material and weed-host removal), and accepting that affected plants are lost rather than curable.
Symptoms and control measures follow ICAR, KVK and state agricultural-university package-of-practices; any named chemical is a registered use. Always read the product label and confirm the dose for your crop and zone. editorial policy.