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Etiology

Spring Beauty Latent Virus: A New Member of the Bromovirus Group. R. A. Valverde, Graduate assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701, Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside 92521; Phytopathology 75:395-398. Accepted for publication 15 October 1984. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-75-395.

Spring beauty, Claytonia virginica, was found to be infected with a latent virus in northwest Arkansas. This virus, designated spring beauty latent virus (SBLV), was similar to the members of the bromovirus group in particle size and shape, sedimentation coefficient, molecular weight, and number of RNA components. Nevertheless, it differed in host range, molecular weight of protein coat, and serology. By using Ouchterlony double-diffusion tests, a very distant serological relationship to cowpea chlorotic mottle virus and brome mosaic virus could be demonstrated, but no relationship to broad bean mottle virus and melandrium yellow fleck virus was evident. Because of its properties, SBLV is proposed as a new member of the bromovirus group.