Viruses implicated in the woodiness disease of South African passionfruit, and the molecular characterization of a new potyvirus

Woodiness disease caused by virus infection is the most serious virus disease of passionfruit and affects economic production of this crop worldwide. A preliminary survey of diseased Passiflora material collected from various regions in South Africa revealed the presence of at least three different viruses. A diseased P. caerulea rootstock specimen from a woodiness diseased vineyard in Natal was selected as a source for isolation and further characterization of viruses. Two viruses that were present in a mixed infection were isolated and purified from this material: a spherical virus which appeared to be cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and a filamentous virus which was initially presumed to be an isolate of passionfruit woodiness virus (PWV). The host range, transmission and prevalence of these viruses were studied by employing techniques such as electron microscopy (negative staining and immunosorbent), electroblot immunoassay, double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked imunoassay and nucleic acid hybridization. In transmission studies, the CMV-isolate and the potyvirus were found to be sap, aphid and graft transmissible. Separation of the two viruses was achieved by passage through a selective host range.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Year dc:date.issued

1992

Author dc:creator

• Brand, Reon J

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Von Wechmar, M Barbara
• Rybicki, Edward P

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22240

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/22240