Abstract
Pseudorecombinants of 2 naturally occurring strains of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV-B and CMV-LsS) were used to analyze the genetics of CMV in relation to pathogenicity to L. saligna, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum and Vigna unguiculata. RNA 2 of CMV-B determined systemic infection of bean, pea and cowpea. Ability to systemically infect L. saligna depended upon both RNA 2 and 3 of CMV-LsS. Chlorotic and necrotic local lesion formation on V. unguiculata depended upon RNA 2 from the B and LsS strains, respectively. A simple and effective procedure using bentonite for the recovery of infectious RNA from polyacrylamide gels is also described.