Periwinkle, A Latent Host for Broad Bean Wilt and Cucumber Mosaic Viruses in Australia. D. D. Shukla, Division of Protein Chemistry, CSIRO, Victoria 3052, Australia. D. S. Teakle, Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland, Queensland 4067, Australia; and K. H. Gough, Division of Protein Chemistry, CSIRO, Victoria 3052, Australia. Plant Dis. 64:802-803. Copyright 1980 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-64-802.

Cucumber mosaic and broad bean wilt (BBWV) viruses were isolated from symptomless periwinkle plants growing in and around Brisbane. Mechanical inoculation of periwinkle with the two viruses produced only latent infections. The periwinkle isolate of BBWV differed in host range, symptomatology, and antigenic properties, compared with the broad bean (type) strain of the virus. The periwinkle isolate is apparently a member of BBWV serotype II, which has not previously been reported from Australia. This is the first report of cucumber mosaic virus in periwinkle in Australia and of periwinkle as a natural host of BBWV.