ISHS Acta Horticulturae 164: VI International Symposium on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants
CARNATION MOTTLE VIRUS DEMONSTRATED IN BEGONIA ELATIOR AND BEGONIA X CHEIMANTHA SHOWING VEIN CLEARING, LEAF CURL AND FLOWER BREAK |
| Authors: | N. Paludan, J. Begtrup |
| Keywords: | Begonia, leaf curl, carnation mottle virus, ISEM, virus inactivation, meristem-tip culture, storage |
| Abstract:
Leaf curl symptoms in Begonia elatior cause problems for the growers during winter time, the infected plants being unsaleable or of a low quality. The causal pathogen has so far been obscure. During recent years, preliminary experiments have been carried out in order to diagnose the pathogen involved and to develop methods for production and storing of virus-free plants. The symptoms being vein clearing, curled leaves, deformed flowers with flower break and flowers of poor keeping qualities, infected plants have shown symptoms mainly during winter. Viruslike leaf curl agent (LCA) has repeatedly been transmitted to Chenopodium quinoa - most successfully by dry inoculation. In our trails the LCA has never been transmitted among begonias and never been transmitted back from indicator plants. The virus was diagnosed as carnation mottle virus by the serological ISEM method, but only in infected sap from indicator plants. Meristem-tip plants were established best in a 75 per cent concentration of macro- and microelements of the MS-62 medium. Inactivation of LCA by meristem-tip culture was achieved in 93 per cent of established plants. Plantlets in test tubes have successfully been stored for one year at 12°C. | |
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