
%0 Journal Article
%A Stubbs, LL 
%A Meagher, JW 
%T A virosis-like proliferation (Witches' broom) of lucerne (<I>Medicago sativa</I> L.) caused by an eriophyid mite (<I>Aceria medicaginis</I> Keifer)
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1965/04/01
%V 16
%N 2
%P 125-129
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9650125
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9650125 
%X A witches' broom condition of lucerne, characterized by foliage symptoms similar to those attributed to a leafhopper-transmitted virus, is described. The lucerne bud mite, Aceria medicaginis Keifer, has been found to be consistently associated with affected plants collected in a number of localities in northern Victoria. Mites transferred to healthy lucerne seedlings induced the leaf and foliage proliferation symptoms observed on field-collected plants. Experimentally and naturally affected plants recovered when sprayed with thiometon, which indicated that the mite was not acting as the vector of a virus. This previously unreported association of eriophyid mites with witches' broom of lucerne is discussed in relation to findings from earlier aetiological and ecological studies on the disease in Australia. 
