Search Results
Double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) analysis of apparently healthy red mulberry (Morus rubra L.) yielded four distinct dsRNA banding profiles. dsRNA type 1 contained three dsRNA bands with approximate molecular weights (MWs) of 12.0, 1.0, and 0.9 × 106, respectively. dsRNA type 2 contained two dsRNA bands with MWs of 1.0 and 0.9 × 106. dsRNA type 3 contained four dsRNA bands with MWs of 1.0, 0.9, 0.89, and 0.88 × 106. dsRNA type 4 contained three dsRNA bands with MWs of 1.0, 0.88, and 0.87 × 106. No virus particles were associated with any of the samples analyzed. All four types of dsRNA were resistant to DNase I and RNase A in high salt and susceptible to RNase A in low salt. Mulberry dsRNAs were somewhat similar to endogenous dsRNAs (edsRNA) associated with other hosts. This is the first report of edsRNA associated with a deciduous tree.
Ajuga reptans L. is an herbaceous ornamental mint grown in borders or as a groundcover, and is commonly propagated vegetatively and by seed. Three hundred and fifty-six A. reptans samples were obtained from growers in Washington, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio, and screened for alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), tobacco streak ilarvirus (TSV), cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), tomato aspermy cucumovirus (TAV), tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV), impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus (INSV), tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), potato virus × potexvirus (PVX), and 80 potyviruses, using direct antibody sandwich (DAS) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Viral-associated double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) analysis was used to detect an apparent satellite (sat) RNA, and northern hybridization using a digoxigenin (DIG) labeled (S) CARNA-5 cDNA probe was used to confirm the identity of the apparent satRNA. No incidences of TAV, TMV, TSWV, INSV, PVX, or potyviruses were detected. CMV was detected in 11%, AMV in 22.2%, TSV in 3.7%, and mixed infections of CMV and AMV in 1.1% of the samples. SatRNA was detected in 36 A. reptans `Royalty', two `Rainbow', and two `Burgundy Glow' samples by dsRNA analysis, and confirmed by hybridization in 29 `Royalty' and one `Burgundy Glow' samples. Sixteen A. reptans `Royalty' seedlings grown from seed harvested from CMV-infected plants were tested by ELISA for CMV, AMV, and TSV. All were positive for CMV, and two were positive for a mixed infection of CMV and AMV. SatRNA was detected in all 16 seedlings by RT-PCR.
During Spring and Summer 1989 and 1990, the Maryland Dept. of Agriculture obtained several barrenwort (Epimedium sp. C. Morr. and Decne.) hybrids showing virus-like symptoms, including mosaic, line pattern, and concentric chlorotic ringspot. Viral-associated, double-stranded RNA analysis, electron microscopy, serology, and host reactions indicated the presence of a virus with properties similar to those of the tobamovirus group. Serologically, the virus was closely related to tomato mosaic virus. Attempts to infect barrenwort by mechanical inoculations were unsuccessful. This is the first report of a viral infection of barrenwort.