Abstract
A previously undescribed rhabdovirus was found from East Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) showing streak on rootstalks and often chlorotic or ring spots on leaves, collected at Okayama prefecture in 1977. The rhabdovirus, ca. 90×300-340nm, having helical nucleocapsid with a pitch of 4.5nm, was detected in dip, partially purified and thin-sectioned preparations. Intracellular virus particles were observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of various cells. Nucleus of cells infected with the virus was characterized by the development of nuclear viroplasms. It suggested that the virus particles were maturated at the inner nuclear membrane and then passed through ER membrane into the cytoplasm. Since this is the first report of the virus isolate from Nymphaeaceae, as far as we know, the virus was designated lotus streak virus (LSV).
