Das Projekt "Mycoplasma-aehnliche Organismen (=Phytoplasmen) als Krankheitserreger im Obstbau" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Bundesamt und Forschungszentrum für Landwirtschaft, Institut für Phytomedizin durchgeführt. OILO's are genuine mollicules, phytogenetically related to the ochole-plasma-ausaeroplasma group. They are siere-tute-restricted plant pathogens, which are responsible for many fruit-tree diseases (apple proliferation, pear decline, etc.). The aim of the project is to gain information about the distribution of phytoplasmas in plant tissue (root, stem, etc.). The research project also involves studies about the pathogen-plant cell and pathogen-host interactions.