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A Strain of Belladonna Mottle Virus Isolated from Physalis heterophylla in Iowa. H. E. Moline, Botany and Plant Pathology Department, Iowa State University, Ames 50010, Present address of senior author — USDA, ARS, Northern Grain Insects Research Laboratory, Brookings, South Dakota 57006; R. E. Fries, Botany and Plant Pathology Department, Iowa State University, Ames 50010, Present address: Plant Pathology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706. Phytopathology 64:44-48. Accepted for publication 20 June 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-44.

In 1971, a mechanically transmissible agent was recovered in central Iowa from Physalis heterophylla, a common perennial weed. Studies indicated that the agent is a virus, limited in host range to members of the Solanaceae and Chenopodium quinoa. The virus is serologically related to European Belladonna mottle virus. The virion is ca. 29 nm in diam and contains approximately 37% RNA. Two particles are associated with infectivity following density-gradient centrifugation, a noninfective top component (54S) and an infective bottom component (114S). Nicotiana glutinosa is a good systemic host which yielded large amounts of purified virus.