Infection of primary cultures of aphid cells with a plant virus

Abstract

Primary cell cultures of ovarian and embryonic tissues of the aphid Hyperomyzus lactucae L. were prepared. These cultures were inoculated with purified samples of sowthistle yellow vein virus (SYVV). Infection of cells with SYVV was demonstrated by direct fluorescent antibody staining. The first infection was noticed 37 hours after inoculation and the number of infected cells reached a maximum after 48 hours. As many as 1700 infected cells were obtained in a single coverslip culture.