Disease Note

Turnip Mosaic Virus in Alabama. M. A. Wilson, George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088. C. Stevens, George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088, and R. T. Gudauskas and V. Varner, Department of Botany, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849. Plant Dis. 70:892. Accepted for publication 30 April 1986. Copyright 1986 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-70-892c.

In the spring of 1983 and the spring and fall of 1984, severe mosaic and chlorosis of foliage, stunting, and death of turnip (Brassica rapa L. 'Japanese Shogoin, "White Egg,' and 'Purple Top White Globe') plants were observed at two locations in Macon County, Alabama. Overall incidence of the disease was 60 and 95% during 1983 and 1984, respectively, and yield and quality of turnips were significantly reduced. The causal virus was identified as turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) by serologically specific electron microscopy (SSEM); TuMV antiserum was provided by D. E. Purcifull of the University of Florida, Gainesville, and R. J. Shepherd of the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Long (717 nm), flexuous rod particles characteristic of TuMV were observed by SSEM in leaf sap from both naturally and experimentally infected turnip plants; no virus particles were observed in sap from healthy plants.