Zinnia Plants Research Articles

A strain of tobacco mosaic virus isolated from a wild crucifer plant, Radicula sylvestris Druce

In this paper the authors described a virus which was isolated from a wild crucifer plant, Radicula sylvestris Druce and was identified as a strain of tobacco mosaic virus. This virus was named TMV-C.Radicula sylvestris infected with TMV-C showed no symptoms on the leaves. The plant may carry besides TMV-C, other viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus without showing any symptoms.TMV-C was isolated from about 9 per cent of the population of this plant.The virus was highly infectious to turnip and caused distinct mottling on the leaves, but very mild mottling on the leaves of cabbage.Vigna chinensis, Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum var. white Burley, N. rustica, and N. sylvestris showed local necrotic lesions on the inoculated leaves followed by no systemic symptoms.Infected N. tabacum var. Samsun, N. acuminata, and N. debneyi showed necrotic lesions on the inoculated leaves followed by systemic mottling and necrosis. Infected N. alata showed necrotic lesions on the inoculated leaves followed by systemic mottling, and infected N. sanderae showed similar local lesions followed by systemic chlorotic spots. Zinnia plants showed vein clearing, mild mottling, and necrotic patches of the leaves by infection of the virus.N. tabacum var. Ambalema, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vicia fabae, maize, cucumber, and Raphanus sativus var. acantiformis were immune to the virus.TMV-C infection was interfered by the ordinary strain of tobacco mosaic virus in N. tabacum var. Samsun.This virus in the juice of the infected plant was not completely inactivated in ten minutes at 90°C, or by dilution up to 106.The infected sap stored at room temperature or at 4°C gave good infections for thirty days. Under an electronmicroscope, the virus particles show rod shape and about 300mμ long, and are quite alike those of the ordinary strain of tobacco mosaic virus.