Host Range and Some Properties of Asparagus Virus 1 Isolated from Asparagus officinalis in Japan

Abstract

A virus was isolated from symptomless asparagus plants (Asparagus officinalis) in Hokkaido. The virus was sap transmissible to 7 species belonging to 4 families, and caused local lesions on Chenopodium spp., Tetragonia expansa, Spinacia oleracea and Gomphrena globosa. The virus was transmitted by Myzus persicae in a non-persistent manner. Sap from infected C. quinoa was infective after heating for 10min at 50C but not 55C, after dilution to 10^-3 but not 2×10^-4, and after 8 days but not 11 days at 20C. The virus particles were elongated flexuous rods, with a modal length of 746nm×13nm. On the basis of the symptomatology, host range, transmission mode, physical properties, and particle morphology, the virus was identified as asparagus virus 1 described by Hemn (1960). Ultraviolet absorption spectrum of purified virus preparation was characteristic of that of nucleoprotein with an A 260/280 ratio of 1.24. The titer of the antiserum against the virus was 1/512 in ring interface precipitin test. This antiserum reacted positively with the purified virus, but not with some other potyviruses in SDS-agar gel double diffusion test. However, in ring interface precipitin test, the antiserum reacted weakly with turnip mosaic virus, bean yellow mosaic virus and lettuce mosaic virus. Ultrathin sections of infected asparagus leaves showed cytoplasmic inclusions of pinwheel, bundle and laminated aggregates.