Transmission of Tomato Ringspot Virus from Dandelion via Seed and Dagger Nematodes. Wilbur L. Mountain, Plant Industry Technician, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Charles A. Powell, Plant Pathologist, and Lyle B. Forer, Chief Plant Pathologist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA 17110, and Richard F. Stouffer, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, Fruit Research Laboratory, Biglerville, PA 17307. Plant Dis. 67:867-868. Accepted for publication 11 January 1983. Copyright 1983 American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-67-867.

Seedlings from five tomato ringspot virus (TmRSV)-infected common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) plants were assayed for the virus. An average of 24% of the seedlings were found infected. Mean percent germination of seeds from TmRSV-infected and uninfected dandelion plants was the same. Xiphinema rivesi was able to acquire TmRSV from infected dandelion plants and transmit it to uninfected seedlings. Common dandelion is a major natural reservoir for TmRSV in Pennsylvania, and the potential importance of this weed in the epidemiology of TmRSV-induced orchard diseases is discussed.