Cytopathology of maize cells infected by maize necrotic streack and maize white line mosaic viruses.

Maize necrotic streak virus (MNeSV) and Maize white line mosaic virus (MWLMV) are distantly related viruses with isometric particles 32-35 nm in diameter, encapsidating a single stranded RNA genome ca 4.3 kb in size. MNeSV is a tentative member of the genus Tombusvirus whereas MWLMV is still unclassified. Since tombusviruses elicit the formation of cytopathological structures (multivesicular bodies) that assist in their identification at the genus level, the cytology was investigated of thin-sectioned maize leaf tissues