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Distribution Pattern of Bean Common Mosaic Virus in Developing Bean Seed. Ephraim J. A. Ekpo, Graduate Student, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823; A. W. Saettler, Research Plant Pathology, Bean Disease Investigations, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48823. Phytopathology 64:269-270. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-64-269.

The distribution of bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) in developing reproductive tissues was determined using ‘Monroe’ bean for local lesion assays. Opened and unopened blossoms, as well as young pods (and enclosed seeds) contained infectious BCMV. BCMV was detected internally in cotyledons and embryos, but not in seedcoats of seeds developing on infected plants; BCMV was easily removed from seedcoat surfaces by external decontamination. Seed maturation (drying) had little effect on BCMV distribution in cotyledons and embryos.