Absorption and translocation of mammalian viruses by plants: I. Survival of mouse encephalomyelitis and poliomyelitis viruses in soil and plant root environment

Abstract

The rates of degradation at 30° of strains FA and GD VII mouse encephalomyelitis viruses and of types 1 (Mahoney) and 2 (YSK) polioviruses in liquid and sand suspensions and in soil were determined. Mouse encephalomyelitis virus, strain FA, survived 3–4 weeks in sterile or nonsterile soil; virus in sterile or nonsterile liquid suspension survived for from 7 to 12 days. Soil pH influenced survival of GD VII virus which persisted for 3–4 weeks in alkaline soil, at least 5 weeks in neutral soil, but could not be recovered from acid soil after incubation for 24 hours. Type 1 poliovirus was recoverable from sterlle soil for 6–7 weeks, and from nonsterile soil for 2–3 weeks. Soil and soil clays adsorbed and held firmly large quantities of poliovirus. In the environment of roots of tomato plants cultivated hydroponically: (a) types 1 and 2 polioviruses were inactivated at similar rates, and (b) type 1 virus from cell culture was inactivated more rapidly than virus in monkey brain suspension. Monkey brain type 1 virus was inactivated more rapidly in the environment of pea roots than in that of tomato roots.