Helical, Motile Mycoplasmas Associated with Flowers and Honey Bees in California

Spiroplasmas were cultured from nonsurface-sterilized flowers of magnolia tree (Magnolia grandiflora L.) and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipfera L.) in Alameda, Solano, and Yolo counties in California. Spiroplasmas were also isolated from honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) collected in the vicinity of Davis and Berkeley, CA. Most of the isolates grew relatively slowly at 31 or 37 degrees C reaching maximum population at 31 degrees C in 8-10 days. The flower isolates were serologically indistinguishable by deformation and growth inhibition tests of spiroplasma strain AS-576 from honey bee from Maryland. Isolates from honey bees were serologically closely related to spiroplasma strain SE-3 from tulip tree flower from Connecticut.