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During a survey for a European Union-funded project on the viruses of Alstroemeria, an A. caryophyllea plant was found expressing virus-like symptoms, including dark green vein banding, necrotic spots, and flower color breaking. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), no positive reaction was obtained with antisera to Alstroemeria mosaic, Alstroemeria carla, Cucumber mosaic, Freesia mosaic, or Tobacco rattle virus. A positive ELISA reaction was obtained with potyvirus-specific monoclonal antibodies (Agdia, Elkhart, IN) and antiserum to Ornithogalum mosaic virus (OrMV) (1). In electron microscopy leaf dip preparations of A. caryophyllea, potyvirus-like particles were observed. Using sapinoculation, the virus was transferred to Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa, resulting in local lesions 6 days postinoculation. The presence of OrMV in both Chenopodium spp. was confirmed by electron microscopy and ELISA with antiserum to OrMV. Sequence alignment of DNA fragments (740 bp) obtained in immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction on RNA isolated from the suspect virus, using a potyvirus-specific primer set (2), showed 91% homology with the corresponding region of OrMV RNA (GenBank accession no. D00615). The results confirm the infection of A. caryophyllea by OrMV. This is the first report of natural infection of Alstroemeria by OrMV. References: (1) J. T. Burger and M. B. von Wechmar. Phytopathology 79:385, 1989. (2) R. A. A. van der Vlugt et al. Phytopathology 89:148, 1999.

Abstract. Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AIMV) is one of the viruses known to occur inAlstroemeria spp. Its detection in DAS-ELISA needed improvement. The often simultaneous presence of a second potyvirus has been mentioned by various authors. The recently detected virus in Alstroemeria, tentatively named Alstroemeria streak virus [A1SV; Wong, 1992] was multiplied in indicator plants and had a host range similar to that of AIMV, although the symptoms in these hosts were less severe. Both viruses reacted with antisera prepared in the Netherlands and in Great Britain to A1MV-isolates purified from infected Alstroemeria plants, and from Nicotiana clevelandii, respectively. Where A1SV occurs separately, distinction from A1MV is possible by its negative reaction with potyvirus group-specific monoclonal antibodies.

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