Tobacco mosaic virus, not just a single component virus
anymore
Elisabeth Knapp and Dennis J. Lewandowski
Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Citrus Research and
Education Center, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
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| Taxonomy: |
Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is the type species of the Tobamovirus
genus and a member of the alphavirus-like supergroup. Historically, many
tobamoviruses are incorrectly called strains of TMV, although they can
differ considerably in sequence similarities and host range from each other
and from TMV.
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| Physical properties: |
TMV virions are 300 x 18 nm rods
with a central hollow cavity and are composed of 95% capsid protein (CP),
and 5% RNA. Each CP subunit interacts with 3-nts in a helical arrangement
around the RNA. Virions are stable for decades; infectivity in sap
survives heating to 90°C. |
| Host range: |
The natural host range of TMV is
limited; however, a broad range of weed and crop species, mostly Solanaceae
that includes tobacco, pepper and tomato can be infected experimentally
[Holmes, F.O. (1946) A comparison of the experimental host ranges of
tobacco etch and tobacco mosaic viruses. Phytopathology 36,
643-657]. TMV distribution is worldwide. No biological vectors are known. |
| Useful web site: |
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/71010001.htm |
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Left Electron micrograph of TMV virions stained with uranyl
acetate. Courtesy of Dr J.N. Culver, University of Maryland Biotechnology
Institute.
Right: Typical mosaic symptoms caused by wild-type TMV
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