Abstract
The effect of metabolic inhibitors on multiplication and distribution of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) in cucumber cotyledons was investigated. The amount of TMV, as assayed by ELISA, increased about 8 times in cucumber cotyledon when actinomycin D (3μg/ml) was applied immediately or at 1 day after inoculation, but not increased by the application at 2 or 3 days after inoculation. TMV also increased to 3-fold when rifampicin (100μg/ml) was applied just after inoculation. These antibiotics had no significant effect on CGMMV multiplication in cucumber cotyledons. The area of TMV distribution in cucumber cotyledons was researched using the fluorescent antibody technique. TMV was observed in limited areas of the epidermal and palisade layers when cotyledons were treated with water. When cotyledons were treated with actinomycin D, however, TMV multiplied and spread horizontally and vertically in the tissues, and infected cells were observed in the upper epidermal, palisade, spongy parenchyma and also lower epidermal layers. These results revealed that actinomycin D increased TMV concentration in consequence of the spread of infected areas by inhibiting localization of the virus.
