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Infectivity Neutralization Used in Serological Tests With Partially Purified Beet Curly Top Virus. James E. Duffus, Plant Pathologist, ARS, USDA, U.S. Agricultural Research Station, Salinas, California 93901; A. H. Gold, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Berkeley 94720. Phytopathology 63:1107-1110. Accepted for publication 5 March 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1107.

A serological comparison of several isolates of beet curly top virus by infectivity neutralization with antiviral antibodies has established their relationship. Partially purified virus preparations were mixed with equal volumes of antisera and after incubation were fed to beet leafhoppers (Circulifer tenellus) through artificial membranes. One antiserum tested almost completely neutralized the infectivity of three curly top isolates, another only partially neutralized infectivity. Normal rabbit serum or antiserum against healthy shepherd’s purse juice did not affect infectivity. Partially purified curly top virus preparations from density-gradient electrophoresis fractions showed one type of particle in shadowed preparations, small, spherical, spongy appearing, and ca. 19-20 nm in diameter.