VIEW ARTICLE

The Effect of Environment on the Response of Bean Cultivars to Infection by Strains of Bean Common Mosaic Virus. Rodrigo Alconero, Research Plant Pathologist, Federal Experiment Station, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; J. P. Meiners, Chairman, Plant Protection Institute, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Phytopathology 64:679-682. Accepted for publication 27 November 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-679.

The New York 15, Florida, and Puerto Rico, and type strains of bean common mosaic virus were compared on Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) cultivars commonly used as strain differentials in growth chambers programmed to 35 C and 24 C with 8 h of artificial light with approximately 26,900 lux and in a greenhouse with variation in temp from 20 C at night to 30 C during the day with sunlight intensity of approximately 19,358 lux maximum. Response of cultivars to infection with the same strain often varied in the different test environments. Standardization of procedures for strain recognitions by investigators is needed. A tentative procedure for strain recognition and comparison is discussed.