Virus Elimination from Interspecific Arachis Hybrids. K. B. Dunbar, Research Horticulturist, USDA-ARS, SAA, Regional Plant Introduction Station, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223-1797. D. L. Pinnow, J. B. Morris, and R. N. Pittman. Plant Pathologist, Agronomist, and Peanut Curator, USDA-ARS, SAA, Regional Plant Introduction Station, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223-1797. Plant Dis. 77:517-520. Accepted for publication 8 January 1993. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1993. DOI: 10.1094/PD-77-0517.

Some germ plasm collections of Arachis species and hybrids are maintained vegetatively. This study was conducted to develop protocols to eliminate virus from vegetatively maintained peanut. The culture of shoot meristems was effective for virus elimination from interspecific Arachis hybrids. Peanut mottle virus (PMV), peanut stripe virus (PStV), and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were not detected by DAS-ELISA in any plants regenerated from meristems treated with thermotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy. Only 2.0% of the plants regenerated from untreated meristems contained PMV, and none contained PStV or TSWV. Shoot tip culture was not as effective as meristem culture for elimination of PMV. Plants regenerated from untreated shoot tips (1 cm long) of Arachis hybrids remained infected with PMV, whereas 38% of the plants regenerated from shoot tips treated with thermotherapy plus chemotherapy were infected with PMV. Arachis hybrids were more readily freed of TSWV and PStV than of PMV. Meristem culture, thermotherapy, and chemotherapy were not required for elimination of TSWV and PStV, and plants regenerated from untreated shoot tips were free of these viruses.