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Etiology

Andean Potato Mottle, a New Member of the Cowpea Mosaic Virus Group. C. E. Fribourg, Departamento de Sanidad Vegetal, Universidad Nacional Agraria, Apartado 456, Lima, Peru; R. A. C. Jones(2), and R. Koenig(3). (2)International Potato Center, Apartado 5969, Lima, Peru; (3)Institute for Virus Serology, Biologische Bundesanstalt, D 33, Braunschweig, West Germany. Phytopathology 67:969-974. Accepted for publication 11 February 1977. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-969.

A virus, for which the name Andean potato mottle virus (APMV) is proposed, was isolated from cultivated potatoes from three localities in Peru and from the International Potato Center germplasm bark which includes clones collected throughout the Andean region. The predominant primary and secondary symptoms induced in potato cultivars were mild and severe mottle, respectively. The host range of APMV was restricted to members of the Solanaceae. Sap from infected Nicotiana bigelovii leaves remained infective after being diluted 10^–6, stored for 4 wk, or heated at 65 C but not at 70 C. The virus was transmitted by contact but not by Epitrix sp. (a flea beetle). Electron microscopy of sap or purified preparations revealed “full” and “empty” particles with a diameter of about 28 nm. Serologically the virus is distantly related to several comoviruses and in SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis it yielded two protein bands with molecular weights of 20,800 and 40,100 daltons.