Definition

A type of bacteria that lives as a parasite in the phloem tissue of plants and some insects, known for having no cell wall and a very small genome.

Example

Phytoplasma can cause serious diseases in plants, affecting their growth and health.

Conversation

Have you heard about phytoplasma and how it affects plants?

Yeah, I read that it can cause some serious diseases in crops.

Exactly! It's crazy how such tiny bacteria can have such a big impact.

I know, right? We really need to be careful with our garden plants.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Phytoplasma is formed from "phyto-" (from Greek "phyton", meaning plant) and "plasma" (from Greek "plasma", meaning something molded or formed). The word refers to a type of bacteria that affects plants, thus relating to the plant origin and its cellular structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'phyto-' meaning plant and 'plasma' meaning something formed — this helps you remember that phytoplasma is a substance related to the structure of plants.

Visually Confused Words