Míkovitost

Míkovitost is a condition affecting certain species of milkweed plants, primarily within the Asclepias genus. It is characterized by a distinctive malformation of the plant's reproductive structures, specifically the flowers and seed pods. Affected plants often exhibit a proliferation of leaf-like structures in place of normal flowers, a phenomenon known as fasciation. This abnormal growth can also lead to thickened, distorted stems and reduced or absent seed production.

The precise cause of míkovitost is not fully understood, but it is believed to be linked to an infection by a phytoplasma, a type of bacterium that lacks a cell wall. These phytoplasmas are typically transmitted by insect vectors, such as leafhoppers. The infection disrupts the plant's hormonal balance, leading to the observed developmental abnormalities. While míkovitost can significantly impact the reproductive capacity of milkweed plants, potentially affecting monarch butterfly populations that rely on these plants for their larval stage, it is generally not considered fatal to the plant itself. Management strategies are not typically employed, as the condition is a natural phenomenon influenced by environmental factors and pathogen presence.