A whitefly-tranmsitted clostero-like virus isolated from diseased tomato.

A clostero-like virus, isolated from a diseased tomato plant, was transmitted by Trialeurodes vaporariorum to tomato and a few other Solanaceae. The virus was partially purified and an antiserum produced, suitable for ELISA. No serological relationship was detected with similar viruses reported in Europe. Virus particles, with a modal length of 850 m, contained ssRNA that formed a single band of about 8 kb. Protein from partially purified virus gave two bands of estimated Mr of 24 and 28 kDa; although their origin is still unclear, both were recognised by the homologous antiserum and were absent from comparable healthy preparations.