Identità sierologica tra i virus dell'ingiallimento nervale del cappero e del pittosporo

A rhabdovirus, previously described in plants of Capparis spinosa var. rupestris showing vein yellowing and provisionally named caper vein yellowing virus (CapVYV) was mechanically transmitted to Nicotiana benthamiana. A monolesion isolate of the virus was studied for the following aspects: host range, physical properties in vitro, behaviour during purification, serological characters, and cytopathological effects in leaves of C. spinosa and N. benthamiana. The herbaceous species which are susceptible to the virus mostly belong to Solanaceae. In sap of N. benthamiana the virus lost its infectivity, when heated 10 min. between 40 and 45 °C, diluted up to 10-3 and after 2 and 24 h storage at 20 and 4 °C, respectively. An antiserum with a titre of 1:32 - 1:64 was produced in a rabbit. Virus particles were mainly localized in perinuclear space of infected parenchymatous cells. Finally, serological tests showed that CapVYV is not distinguishable from another already known plant rhabdovirus, i.e. Pittosporum vein yellowing virus (PVYV), of which should be considered an isolate.