Interceptation of Viruses on Foreign Tulips in Brazil

Abstract

Sixty-seven tulip samples intercepted from the Netherlands by the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry, between 2004 and 2006, and two samples from São Paulo local market, Brazil, were assayed by serological and biological techniques, as well as by electron microscopy observations, for virus screening. In bulbs from the Netherlands potexviruses were detected in five samples and tobamoviruses in other three. Symptoms induced in some differential hosts were similar to those caused by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), while serological results indicated an infection byTulip virus X. In two tulip samples from local flower shops, a Potyviridae was identified based on the presence of flexuous particles and cytoplasmic cylindrical inclusions. Mechanical transmission tests to potyvirus hosts in the Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Solanaceae species were negative, making possible to exclude a possible infection by Turnip mosaic viru, a common virus species in tulips. Although TVX could be detected in intercepted tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, the virus is only reported in Scotland, Japan and USA.