2001 Volume 2001 Issue 48 Pages 97-100
Viral symptoms with necrotic spots and necrotic ring spots were found in cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) and exacum (Exacum affne) plants in Tochigi prefecture. The double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-absorbent assay with antiserum to Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) gave a negative reaction. Spherical enveloped particles were observed with electron microscopy in infected cyclamen leaves. Degenerate primers specific to the nucleocapsid genes of Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and TSWV were designed for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR gave the expected PCR products of approximately 540bp and 440bp. Sequence comparison of the PCR products showed 99.1% and 98.8% homology with INSV (NL-07) in nucleotide and amino acid, respectively, indicating that the causal agent of necrotic spot diseases of cyclamen and exacum was INSV.
