Comparison of a New Soilborne Virus from Cucumber with Tombus-, Diantho-, and Other Similar Viruses

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Abstract
A virus isolated from cucumber roots grown in soil from the Jijey area south of Beirut [Lebanon] produced local lesions on a number of plant species, but no systemic infections. Its particles with a diameter of .apprx. 31 nm had a sedimentation coefficient of .apprx. 120S and a buoyant density in CsCl of 1.343 g/cm3, indicating an RNA content of .apprx. 18%. Its UV absorption spectrum had a minimum at 245 nm and a maximum at 260 nm. In immunoelectrophoresis at pH 7.0, the virus migrated towards the anode. The viral coat protein and the single genomic RNA sp. had MW of 4.14 .times. 104 and 1.5 .times. 106, respectively. Some preparations also contained a minor RNA sp. with a MW of 0.16-0.19 .times. 106, which was not necessary for infection. The base composition of the RNA was C22, A23, G32 and U23. Virus particles were found scattered or in small aggregates in the cytoplasm, but not in nuclei or other organelles. The virus did not induce cytopathic effects typical of tombusviruses or dianthoviruses, nor did it react with antisera to known tombusviruses, dianthoviruses or 43 other isometric viruses. Cucumber soil-borne virus is the name proposed for this apparently newly described virus.