Aims and Scope:

The Mollicutes are a class of bacteria distinguished by the absence of a cell wall. They change shape readily (pleomorphism) because they lack a cell wall, being bounded by a triple-layered lipoprotein membrane that contains a sterol. Individuals are very small, typically only 0.2-0.3 in size and have a very small genome size. Thus mollicutes possibly became the smallest self-replicating organism in nature . They vary in form, although most have sterols that make the cell membrane somewhat more rigid. Many are able to move about through gliding, but members of the genus Spiroplasma are helical and move by twisting. The best-known genus in Mollicutes is Mycoplasma. They are parasites of various animals, humans and plants, living on or in the host's cells. Many Mollicutes cause diseases in humans, attaching to cells in the respiratory or urogenital tracts, particularly species of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. Phytoplasma and Spiroplasma are plant pathogens affecting over 300 plant species associated with insect vectors. To maintain their parasitic mode of life the mollicutes have developed rather sophisticated mechanisms to colonize their hosts and resist the host immune system.

Phytopathogenic Mollicutes journal is a half yearly official publication of the Technology Society of Basic & Applied Sciences (TSBAS), which will promote the interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and ideas in recent researches on phytoplasma, spiroplasma and other phloem-limited plant pathogens. The journal is unique of its kind because no journal in the world is available which covers all aspects of mollicutes viz: characterization, diseases, management, pathogen genes and genomes, taxonomy, evolution, host parasite interaction, transmission, vectors, epidemiology. This journal is being published by Indianjournals.com. The Phytopathogenic Mollicutes is planned with every aim to provide a high profile vehicle for publication of the most innovative, original and rigorous development in the basic and applied research on mollicutes. Interdisciplinary studies of fundamental problems on the subject are given high priority.

The structure of the journal takes into account the broad scope of R & D in phytopathogenic mollicutes research. Thus in addition to its full length and short papers on original research, the journal also includes regular features on editorial, review articles, meetings, scientific correspondence, new developments, current references on the subject from other sources and book reviews.