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First report of Carnation necrotic fleck virus
(CNFV) infecting carnations in India
G. Raikhy, V. Hallan, S. Kulshrestha, M.L. Sharma, Raja Ram and
A.A. Zaidi *
Virology Lab, Floriculture Division, Institute of Himalayan
Bioresource Technology (CSIR), Palampur - 176 061 (HP), India
*zaidi_aijaz@yahoo.com
Accepted for publication 13/05/03
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In a survey of carnations grown in the Kangra valley
of Himachal Pradesh, India, seventeen out of the thirty five
varieties inspected showed mottling with grey streaks or red
necrotic flecks. These symptoms were similar to those previously
reported for Carnation necrotic
fleck virus (CNFV) (Bar-Joseph et al., 1979). Sap from
symptomatic leaves was inoculated on to Dianthus caryophyllus, D.
chinensis and D. barbatus. Symptoms produced on these Dianthus
spp indicators included mottling, vein clearing, flecking, gray
streaks or red necrotic flecks. No symptoms were observed when Chenopodium
spp were inoculated. Using a polyclonal DAS-ELISA kit (Agdia, USA),
CNFV was detected in Dianthus indicator plants and the
carnation varieties: Arthur Sim, Cabarett, Charmour, Dessio, Dusty Pink,
Espana, Flair, Irma, Josh, LasPama, New Espana, Orange Triumph,
Prinidello, Red Carso, Scania, Shocking Pink and White Candy.
The virus was transmitted in a semi-persistent manner by aphid
species Myzus
persicae, Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii from D.
caryophyllus to D. barbatus, with infection confirmed by
DAS-ELISA. When examined by transmission electron microscopy, leaf
dip preparations showed flexuous virus particles 1400 to 1500nm
long. RT-PCR was conducted using degenerate primers specific to the
closterovirus group (Karasev et al., 1994) and an amplicon of
the expected size (~1000bp) was generated (Fig. 1). All these tests
identified the virus as CNFV. CNFV has been reported from many
countries, including the USA, France, Italy and Yugoslavia. This is
the first report of CNFV infecting carnations in India.
Fig. 1 (Left). Analysis of RT-PCR amplified
product generated using degenerate closterovirus primers from
suspected CNFV-infected material, using agarose gel electrophoresis.
Left-hand lane, 500bp ladder; Right-hand Lane, estimated 1000bp
RT-PCR product. |
References
Bar-Joseph M, Garnsey, SM, Gonsalves D, 1979. The closteroviruses: a
distinct group of elongated plant viruses. Advances in Virus Research
25, 93-168.
Karasev AV, Nikolaeva, OV, Koonin EV, Gumpf DJ, Garnsey, SM, 1994.
Screening of the closterovirus genome by degenerate primer-mediated
polymerase chain reaction. Journal of General Virology 75,
1415-1422.
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