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Etiology

Characterization of a Tombusvirus Isolated from Eggplant. K. M. Makkouk, National Council for Scientific Research/Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (K.M.M.); R. Koenig(2), and D.-E. Lesemann(3). (2)(3)Institut für Viruskrankheiten der Pflanzen der Biologischen Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Messeweg 11, D 330 Braunschweig, Federal Republic of Germany. Phytopathology 71:572-577. Accepted for publication 19 September 1980. Copyright 1981 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-71-572.

A virus that produced mottling and malformation of leaves, together with stunting of growth, isolated from eggplant (Solanum melongena) growing in the Jiyeh area south of Beirut, Lebanon. Results of morphological, serological, and biophysical analyses, as well as observation of cytopathic effects, enabled identification of the virus as a tombusvirus that is provisionally named eggplant mottled crinkle virus. It is differentiated from other tombusviruses by distinctive serological and electrophoretic properties and host range. The double antibody sandwich form of ELISA, but not the Derrick and decoration immunoelectron microscopy methods, had a rather narrow specificity with tombusviruses.