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Etiology

Characterization of Belladonna Mottle Virus Isolates from Kansas and Iowa. Richard F. Lee, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506; C. L. Niblett(2), John D. Hubbard(3), and Lowell B. Johnson(4). (2)(4)Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506; (3)U.S. Grain Marketing Research Laboratory, USDA, SEA/AR Manhattan, KS 66502. Phytopathology 69:985-989. Accepted for publication 27 March 1979. Copyright 1979 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-69-985.

A mechanically transmissible virus with a narrow host range was isolated from Capsicum frutescens ‘Hybrid Tokyo Bell.’ Isometric virus particles approximately 27 nm in diameter sedimented in sucrose density gradients as a noninfectious 53S top component and an infectious 109S bottom component. The single RNA component sedimented at 26S. Through the use of antiserum to the Iowa Physalis mottle strain of belladonna mottle virus, the virus was identified serologically and called belladonna mottle virus, Kansas strain. Both the Kansas and Iowa strains were unusual among plant viruses in that they separated into two cathodic electrophoretic forms between pH 5 and 10. The Kansas and Iowa strains may be differentiated by host range. No seed transmission was found for either strain in C. frutescens, Physalis alkekengi, or Datura stramonium.