SUMMARYThe single-stranded DNA previously reported to be associated with foliar decay disease of coconut palm appears to be predominantly circular, on the basis of its behaviour in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electron microscopy, and its resistance to end-labelling following treatment with alkaline phosphatase and polynucleotide kinase. The DNA sedimented at between 12S and 15S and had a contour length for the circular molecules consistent with the predominant DNA having a molecular weight of about 0.43 × 106, and comprising approximately 1300 nucleotides. These properties differ from the genomic DNAs of known plant viruses.
A geminivirus, the Digitaria Streak Virus (DSV) affects Digitaria sangninalis in Vanuatu. As this plant exists in certain foci of coconut foliar decay (FD), a disease with which a circular single‐stranded DNA is associated, the possibility of these two diseases having a common identity was considered. A study of the vectorial aspects of these two diseases has shown that Myndus taffini (Cixiidae) is a vector of coconut FD and that it does not transmit DSV. Nesoclutha declivata (Cicadellidae) transmits DSV on Digitaria.
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