VIEW ARTICLE

Some Properties of Oat Blue Dwarf Virus. Donna L., Long; Graduate Research Assistant, Plant Pathology Department North Dakota State University, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58102, Present address of senior author: Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Virus Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611. R. G. Timian. 848-851. Accepted for publication 3 March 1975. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-848.

Some of the properties of oat blue dwarf virus (OBDV) (a ~ 30-nm diameter, spherical, vector-propagated virus) in crude juice were determined by membrane-feeding adults of Macrosteles fascifrons (aster leafhopper) on treated, refrigerated plant extract at 9 C. Refrigeration of the virus suspension during acquisition feeding greatly decreased leafhopper mortality. The dilution end point of OBDV was slightly over 1:512. The longevity in vitro was between 16 and 32 days. The thermal inactivation point was between 60 and 70 C. The virus remained viable after 3 months of storage (longest period tested) in clarified plant sap in liquid nitrogen, and after 1 month storage (longest period tested) in leaf tissue in liquid nitrogen. The virus was somewhat tolerant of a range of hydrogen ion concentrations and retained viability best when extracted at pH 6.85. There was (with one exception) a minimum 5-day incubation period before the leafhoppers could transmit OBDV after acquisition through membranes, and transmission was maximum 21-25 days after acquisition feeding.