FURTHER INFORMATION ON INFECTION OF IMPATIENS HOLSTII WITH HELENIUM VIRUS S

A virus with elongated particles measuring 650 to 710 nm was isolated from nearly symptomless specimens of I. holstii Engl. et Warb. on a series of conventional test plants.
The virus forms vacuolated cytoplasmic inclusions visible by light microscopy in leaf parenchyma cells of infected test plants.
Electron microscopy showed great affinity of the virus to phloem tissue, which often contained dense masses of virus particles in various arrangements.
In crude sap the virus lost its infectivity at 75° to 78°C and at room temperature after 10 days.
It was not transmitted by Myzus persicae in a non-persistent manner.
The virus reacted well with an antiserum to Helenium virus S (HelVS) in IEM decoration tests performed by Dr.
D.E. Lesemann, Braunschweig.
However, the striking difference in symptoms and host range between our Impatiens isolate and the earlier described isolates of HelVS and noticeable differences in properties in vitro suggest that our isolate may be a distinct strain.
Comparative investigations are necessary to confirm this.

VII International Symposium on Virus Diseases of Ornamental Plants

N. Pleše, Z. Eric, M. Krajacic

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1988.234.58