In September 1999, several Spathiphyllum plants grown in a greenhouse in Tuscany (Italy) showed leaf symptoms in the form of concentric chlorotic ringspots, line patterns, and irregular chlorotic blotches. These symptoms developed into localized necrosis. Crude sap of tissues showing symptoms was mechanically inoculated to young symptomless Spathiphyllum plants and to Nicotiana benthamiana and N. clevelandii. Samples drawn from symptomatic and symptomless tissues of naturally or artificially infected Spathiphyllum and Nicotiana plants were tested for the presence of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV), Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), Potato X virus (PVX), Potato Y virus (PVY), Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay carried out with commercial antisera. The symptomatic tissues obtained from Spathiphyllum and Nicotiana plants gave a positive reaction only for INSV. The symptomless samples obtained from various parts of the infected Spathiphyllum plants gave a negative reaction, even after 1 year from the appearance of localized necrosis, suggesting a non-systemic infection in this new host. This is the first report of infection of Spathiphyllum sp. by INSV.
