Amity Institute of Microbial Sciences (AIMS), Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Sector 125, Noida-201 303, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the International Conference of Indian Virological Society on “Emerging and Re-emerging viral Diseases of the Tropics and Subtropics” at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, December 11–14, 2007.
Rose geranium (Pelargonium spp.) are important essential oil bearing plants having great demand in national and international markets. Geraniums are reported to be infected with a number of viruses. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Prunus necrotic ring spot virus (PNRSV) have been detected and characterized from India (Verma et al 2006; Kulshrestha et al 2005). An attempt is being made to produce virus-tested Rose geraniums by meristem tip culture in MS basal medium supplemented with 3% sucrose, 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.05 mg/l NAA. The regenerated plants were indexed for CMV and PNRSV using ELISA and RT-PCR. 72% and 54% plants grown in vitro were found CMV free using ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. While, 56% and 45% regenerated geranium plants were tested PNRSV free using ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. The plants tested negative for these two viruses were further multiplied and hardened in the green house followed by field transfer. RT-PCR detection technique was found more sensitive for indexing of the plants grown in virto. The essential oil profile in virus-tested and virus-infected rose geraniums is under progress.
