Occurrence of Asparagus Virus II in Commercial Asparagus Fields in Michigan. A. C. Hartung, Graduate Assistant, Michigan State University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, East Lansing 48824. T. A. Evans, Graduate Assistant, and C. T. Stephens, Associate Professor, Michigan State University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, East Lansing 48824. Plant Dis. 69:501-504. Accepted for publication 7 January 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-501.

A mechanically transmissible virus was found in 23 asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) fields of varying ages and in seedling nurseries. This survey indicated that virus infection was widespread. In most established fields, more than 50% of the plants were infected. The virus was isolated from four of five seedling nurseries, but incidence was lower than in established fields. Using Ouchterlony gel double-diffusion tests, all isolates tested were found serologically identical to asparagus virus II (AV II) described previously in Washington. This is the first report of AV II occurring in asparagus in Michigan.