Abstract:
Fifteen of the 18 viruses known to infect narcissus have been detected in daffodil stocks grown in, or recently imported into, Britain.
Seven of the 15 viruses that are transmissible by aphids or have no known mode of spread specifically infect narcissus, but the other nematode- and aphid-borne viruses are well-characterised pathogens that also occur naturally in a wide range of crop species; of the former viruses, only narcissus yellow stripe and narcissus white streak viruses have yet to be fully characterised.
The symptomatology, detection, properties and epidemiology of the viruses is briefly reviewed.
Virus-free stocks of 50 narcissus cultivars, obtained by selection or by meristem tip-culture, are now being multiplied for commercial use.
The problems of producing, propagating and distributing virus-free stocks are briefly discussed.
|