Geminivirus-Induced Macrotubules and Their Suggested Role in Cell-to-Cell Movement

Abstract

Ultrastructural responses of Datura stramonium (an experimental host of Euphorbia mosaic virus, a whitefly-transmitted geminivirus) were studied in situ. Cells of the earliest chlorotic lesions in mechanically inoculated leaves revealed cytopathic effects that were not observed in systemically infected leaves or in advanced lesions of inoculated leaves. These were the occurrence of macrotubules containing geminate viruslike particles it the cytoplasm and continuation of the macrotubules with the plasmodesmata (...)