Association of Asparagus Virus II with Pollen from Infected Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). T. A. Evans, Former Graduate Assistant, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824. C. T. Stephens, Associate Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824. Plant Dis. 72:195-198. Accepted for publication 9 September 1987. Copyright 1988 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-72-0195.

Asparagus virus II (AV-II), a member of the ilarvirus group, was determined to be readily mechanically transmissible to asparagus using diluted sap prepared from spear tips of AV-II-infected asparagus plants. Infectious virions of AV-II were detected on pollen and in wash solutions of pollen collected from AV-II-infected asparagus plants. Asparagus virus II antigens were localized on the exine of asparagus pollen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and protein A-linked latex antiserum.