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Disease Note.

Natural Occurrence of Freesia Mosaic Virus in Alstroemeria sp. M. G. Bellardi, Istituto di Patologia Vegetale, Università degli Studi, Bologna, Italy 40126. M. Vibio, and A. Bertaccini. Istituto di Patologia Vegetale, Università degli Studi, Bologna, Italy 40126. Plant Dis. 76:643. Accepted for publication 20 December 1991. Copyright 1992 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-76-0643B.

During a survey in Italy on viruses infecting Alstroemeria sp., electron microscopic examination of crude sap revealed potyvirus particles 720-850 nm long. Immunoelectron microscopic techniques showed that the serum to Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AIMV) reacted only with some particles. Several other antisera to the following potyviruses were then tested: potato virus Y, iris severe mosaic, iris mild mosaic, bean yellow mosaic, turnip mosaic, tobacco etch, asparagus virus 1, pea seed borne mosaic, and freesia mosaic (FMV). FMV was the only antiserum other than AIMV that gave a strong decoration of the virus particles (1); Laboratorium vor Bloembollenonderzoekh, Lisse, Netherlands, supplied the FMV antiserum. Double-infected Alstroemeria plants showed deformed and chlorotic leaves but symptomless flowers. Mechanical inoculation of crude sap from these plants transmitted FMV to virus-free freesia seedlings that showed no symptoms 3 mo after inoculation, although the virus was detected serologically. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of FMV in Alstroemeria and in a genus other than Freesia.

Reference: (1) M. J. Foxe and U. F. Wilson. Acta Hortic. 164:291, 1985.