Department of Botany, D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur-273 009, India.
Abstracts of the papers presented at the XVIII National Conference of Indian Virological Society at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, December 11–13, 2008.
A potyvirus causing severe damage to Periwinkle was recently identified in Gorakhpur, U.P. The virus was isolated from leaves of Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don) collected from Ramgartal area during 2004. The infected plants showed mosaic, and produced mottled, irregularly shaped blister and filiform leaves. The virus was readily transmitted by mechanical sap inoculation. The host range of the virus was mainly confined to the members of family cucurbitaceae. The virus was transmitted by Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypi in a non persistent manner. Electron Microscopic observations of the leaf dip and purified preparations revealed the presence of long, filamentous, not enveloped usually flexuous virus particles measuring between 760-800nm. In serological tests through DAC-ELISA and DIBA, the virus reacted strongly with polyclonal antiserum of potyvirus. On the basis of symptomatology, host-range, aphid transmissibility, serology and particle morphology the virus isolate was found to be Watermelon mosaic virus-2.
