Genetic Analysis of Cucumber Mosaic, Peanut Stunt and Chrysanthemum Mild Mottle Viruses

Abstract

Four strains of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-Y, CMV-L, CMV-E and CMV-P), Peanut stunt virus (PSV) and chrysanthemum mild mottle virus (CMMV) had a tripartite genome. Molecular weights of RNA's of CMV, PSV, and CMMV in aqueous gels were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions. Analysis utilizing pseudorecombinants constructed by RNA3 exchange between CMV strains or between GMV-L and CMMV revealed that serotypes were determined by RNA3, while symptoms on cucumber and cowpea plants depended on RNA1+2. Furthermore when RNA 1 and RNA 2 were exchanged between CMV strains, symptoms on cowpea depended on RNA2.