Articles
VIRUS INFECTIONS OF SURFINIA IN ITALY
Article number
432_37
Pages
306 – 311
Language
Abstract
In 1994 and 1995 virus-like symptoms were observed in Surfinia (a Petunia sp. hybrid) cultivations in Northern and Central Italy.
The leaves showed mottle, mosaic and chlorosis; in some cases they were small, with curling and narrowing of the lamina; the flowers showed colour breaking.
The most severe symptoms consisted in necrosis of flowers shoots, stunting and premature death of the plant.
A survey was carried out to check the presence of these pathogens, their relationship with symptom expression and spreading in Italian crops.
Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) was found in Surfinia plants showing mosaic, narrowing and curling of the leaves.
Potato virus Y (PVY)-infected Surfinia plants were characterized by chlorosis or necrosis of leaves and shoots, and flower breaking.
Surfina plants showing severest symptoms were infected by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) together with PVY (necrosis, death) or ToMV (stunting). A serological correlation was found between PVY-Surfinia and: tobacco etch virus (TEV), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), potato virus A (PVA) and iris mild mosaic virus (IMMV).
The leaves showed mottle, mosaic and chlorosis; in some cases they were small, with curling and narrowing of the lamina; the flowers showed colour breaking.
The most severe symptoms consisted in necrosis of flowers shoots, stunting and premature death of the plant.
A survey was carried out to check the presence of these pathogens, their relationship with symptom expression and spreading in Italian crops.
Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) was found in Surfinia plants showing mosaic, narrowing and curling of the leaves.
Potato virus Y (PVY)-infected Surfinia plants were characterized by chlorosis or necrosis of leaves and shoots, and flower breaking.
Surfina plants showing severest symptoms were infected by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) together with PVY (necrosis, death) or ToMV (stunting). A serological correlation was found between PVY-Surfinia and: tobacco etch virus (TEV), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), potato virus A (PVA) and iris mild mosaic virus (IMMV).
As Surfinia is vegetatively propagated, virus infections could become an increasing problem in Italy in the years to come.
Authors
M.G. Bellardi, C. Rubies-Autonell, V. Vicchi
Keywords
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