VIEW ARTICLE

Effect of Virus Infection on Susceptibility to Certain Fungus Diseases and Yield of Gladiolus. M. K. Beute, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607. Phytopathology 60:1809-1813. Accepted for publication 21 July 1970. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-1809.

Virus infection of Gladiolus hortulansus L. decreased yield of flower spikes, corms, and cormels, and increased plant mortality when plants were grown in fungus-infested soil. Virus infection did not affect mortality or yield of plants growing in fumigated soil. Reduced survival and yield of virus-infected gladioli was correlated with increased susceptibility to foliage and soil-borne pathogens. Infection with cucumber mosaic virus or tobacco ringspot virus increased the prevalence and/or severity of Fusarium and Stromatinia root rot diseases, Curvularia leaf spot disease, and storage rot of corms. Similar responses were noted with inoculated and chronic virus-infected plants.