VIEW ARTICLE

Genetics

Effect of Eliminating dsRNA in Hypovirulent Endothia parasitica. D. W. Fulbright, Assistant professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1312; Phytopathology 74:722-724. Accepted for publication 9 February 1984. Copyright 1984 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-74-722.

Hypovirulent isolates of E. parasitica were cured of detectable levels of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) by treatment with cycloheximide. Curing was accompanied by a dramatic increase in virulence, and by recovery of a normal colony morphology. Two isolates were resistant to cycloheximide-induced curing, but when their dsRNAs were transferred to other nuclear genetic backgrounds, curing was possible. All cured strains could be converted to the hypovirulent form by conversion with a hypovirulent strain. Converted strains gained dsRNA and displayed decreased virulence.