Identification of the main virus infecting impatiens (Impatiens balsamina L.)

Abstract

One of the most important obstacles of growing ornamental plants, such as impatiens is disease infections, including those caused by viruses. Identification of viruses infecting impatiens was carried out in the IOCRI Virology laboratory using serological techniques and RT-PCR. Infected plants showed different symptoms involving mosaic, mottle, malformation, and wrinkles (frizz) on the leaves. The results of serological test using 5 antisera, i.e. Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) on leaf samples showed negative reaction. Bioassay tests carried out using 5 different symptomatic viral inoculums showed that only 2 inoculums (no.1 and 3), i.e. those with mosaic symptoms was successfully transmitted by mechanical inoculation to Chenopodium quinoa. Virus confirmation from infected C. quinoa was carried out by RT-PCR using specific primer for INSV, TSWV, and CMV. Amplification of viral DNA target was obtained only using specific primer for CMV. Therefore, we concluded that the causal agent of mosaic symptom found on impatiens plants in Cianjur is CMV.