The Plant Lady

This disease is caused by a microorganism, a mycoplasma-like organism (MLO), which is spread by the 6-spotted leafhopper, aka aster leafhopper(Macrosteles quadrilineatus). The leafhoppers pick it up while sucking the sap of diseased plants.

This aster disease hits in early summer and affects about 200 species of ornamentals, vegetables, and non-woody fruit plants. It's a common disease of many annuals, and overwatering increases the chance to get the disease, particularly in heavy soils.

There's a wide range of abnormalities