A Severe Strain of Cucumber Mosaic Virus from China and Its Associated Satellite RNA. Christopher M. Kearney, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva 14456. Dennis Gonsalves, and Rosario Provvidenti. Professor, and Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva 14456. Plant Dis. 74:819-823. Accepted for publication 6 April 1990. Copyright 1990 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-74-0819.

Fields of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in the Fujian province of southern China were afflicted with a severe disease characterized by purpling, yellowing, necrotic lesions, and severe stunting. By using electron microscopy, host indexing, serology, and RNA analysis, we have determined that a new strain of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Chi) is the causal agent. A satellite RNA (sat-Chi) was found in the culture. CMV-genomic RNA purified free of the satellite caused the same severe symptoms in tomatoes as seen in the field, excluding the necrotic lesions. The addition of purified satellite to the inoculum caused necrosis and death of tomatoes within 6 wk. CMV-Chi free of satellite induced severe symptoms in several hosts. This CMV strain also displayed a longevity in partially dried tissue greater than two other CMV strains, suggesting an especially stable virion.