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Some Cucumber Mosaic Virus Antisera Contain Antibodies Specific for Both Peanut Stunt Virus and Chrysanthemum Mild Mottle Virus. G. I. Mink, Plant Pathologist, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Washington State University, Prosser 99350; N. Iizuka(2) and K. Kiriyama(3). (2)Virologist, Tohoku National Agriculture Experiment Station, Morioka, Iwate-ken, Japan; (3)Virologist, Hatano Tobacco Experiment Station, Hatano, Kanagawa-ken, Japan. Phytopathology 65:65-68. Accepted for publication 27 July 1974. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-65.

Antibodies in ascites fluids prepared against a legume strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-LE), peanut stunt virus (PSV), or chrysanthemum mild mottle virus (CMMV), reacted only with their respective homologous antigens in both ring-interface and gel-diffusion tests. There was no indication that any two of the three viruses were related serologically. However, five rabbit antisera that had been prepared earlier against two other CMV strains (CMV-O and CMV-Y) reacted with PSV and CMMV in addition to CMV. Gel-diffusion tests and ring interface tests made with these five antisera after absorption with individual viruses indicated that the antibodies to each virus present in each antisera were separate and distinct. Both PSV and CMMV were detected serologically in two CMV isolates, suggesting that antisera which contain antibody mixtures likely resulted from the use of mixed virus isolates. Mixed CMV antisera appear to be common and may account for the so-called “broad spectrum” and “narrow spectrum” antisera previously used to determine relationships in this group of small isometric viruses.