Abstract
Twenty isolates of WMV collected from different locations of western Japan were examined by leaf-dip serology and immunodiffusion test. The antiserum used in this study was prepared to an isolate 8 (E) which induced typical mosaic, veinbanding, leaf distortion and dwarf symptoms on cucurbits. Thirteen isolates reacted positively with the antiserum while seven isolates from Kagawa prefecture were negative. The serologically positive isolates were further classified into two groups on the basis of reactions on broadbean and garden pea; 4 isolates infected these species systemically while 9 isolates did not induce systemic infection. The isolates that did not react with the antiserum infected broadbean and garden pea systemically inducing mosaic symptoms. The two types of WMV were detected in field-infected cucurbit plants collected from Kagawa prefecture. These results indicate that there are at least two serologically distinct types of WMV in Kagawa prefeccture.
