Pronunciation: ˌ f ī -t ə - ' plaz-m ə
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin
Date: 1994
: any of a group of bacteria that are related to mycoplasmas, cause plant diseases (as aster yellows) by infecting phloem tissue, are transmitted especially by homopteran insect vectors, and have proved extremely difficult to grow in artificial media ― called also mycoplasma-like organism