Conversion of Comovirus Electrophoretic Forms by Leaf-Feeding Beetles

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo conversion of comovirus electrophoretic forms by regurgitant of leaf-feeding beetles was demonstrated by agarose gel electrophoresis of virus particles. Converted and unconverted electrophoretic forms of three comoviruses-bean pod mottle,cowpea mosaic, or squash mosaic virus-consistently occurred in either infected tissue or purified virus preparations. Incubation of each virus with regurgitant from Mexican bean beetles, bean leaf beetles, or spotted cucumber beetles changed the form of each virus. Only the converted form was found in regurgitant from beetles that were fed on infected tissue or on purified bean pod mottle virus in 5% sucrose (...)