Abstract
In 2001, a new symptom was observed on the stem of Japanese Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb. “ Hinomoto” ), which was characterized by reddish-brown streaks (“ aka-suji” in Japanese) in Okinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It seemed that first chlorotic stripes (“ shiro- suji” in Japanese) appeared and these later turned reddish-brown when the lily approached the flowering stage in the seasonal cycle. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) detected Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Lily symptomless virus (LSV) in lily with reddish-brown streaks. However, these 2 viruses were also detected in symptomless lily plants, indicating that additional factors might exist that induce the symptom. Further, we determined that the reddish-brown streaks were transmitted by the vegetative propagation of lilies. Taken together, these results suggested a viral etiology of the reddish-brown streaks.
