Light Microscopy of Geminivirus-Induced Nuclear Inclusion Bodies

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Abstract
Plant tissues infected by five presumed distinct geminiviruses (bean golden mosaic, lima bean golden mosaic, malvaceous chlorosis, Euphorbia mosaic, and Rhynchosia mosaic) were studied by light microscopy. Large, blue-violet nuclear inclusions as well as fibrillar bodies were readily detected in phloem cells in azure-A-stained tissues from infected plants. The cytopathic effects observed in these light microscopic studies were consistent with the ultrastructural changes associated with these viruses. The diagnostic potential of the light microscpic technique was demonstrated with the pseudo-curly top virus infections occurring in Florida. The conspicuous nuclear inclusions and the fibrillar bodies resolved in tissues infected by the pseudo-curly top virus indicate a geminivirus etiology.