Plant Virilogy Lab., Department of Botany, aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002.
Abstracts of Research Papers Presented during the National Symposium of Indian Virological Society at Unit of Plant Virology, Division of Plant Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, October 14–1.
Launea mosaic virus (LaMV) was isolated bya procedure involving extraction in 0.2M phosphate buffer pH 6.8 containing 0.1% sodium sulphite and 0.1% EDTA. The extract was clarifeid by 30 per cent chilled chloroform. The virus was precipitated by 6% PEG and 0.125% NaCl followed by differential centrifugation. Removal of host contaminants was achieved by rate zonal density gradient centrifugation linear sucrose columns. Purified virus preparation showed flexuous rods C. 730 nm long and 12 nm wide in the electron microscope. Ultrathin section of LaMV infected Datura metel leaves shwoed cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions comprising pinwheels, serolls and lamellar aggregates. An antiserum was raised against LaMV which had a titre of 1:2048 and the antigen titre of 1:512 as determined by tube precipitin test. In immunosorbent electron microscopy, the maximum trapping and decoration was observed with DLDV, PTV, PRSV and TEV. The LaMV showed close serological relationship with DLDV, PTV and PRSV. On the basis of its characteristics and coparison with serologicallyrelated viruses and RT-PCR the virus causing Mosaic disease on Launaea is identified as distinct virus of Potyvirus group.
