Properties and Classification of a Potexvirus Isolated from Three Plant Species in Argentina

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Abstract
A potexvirus with particles 538 nm long was isolated from Plantago major, Taraxacum officinale, and Callistephus chinensis in Argentina. The virus, provisionally named Argentine plantago virus (APlaV), has a wide host range and produces systemic symptoms in several species of the Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Labiatae, Scrophulariaceae and Solanaceae. The thermal inactivation point is 90-95.degree. C and the infectivity dilution end point is 10-8-10-9. Longevity in vitro is 32-64 days. The cytoplasm of infected cells contains banded inclusions consisting of virus particles arranged in parallel and hypertrophied endoplasmic reticulum. Crystal-like inclusions of unknown composition occur in the cytoplasm and in the nuclei. The coat protein of APlaV has a MW of 21.6 .times. 10-3 daltons. APlaV is serologically related to papaya mosaic, plantago severe mottle and Boussingaultia mosaic viruses. The average serological differentiation indices in reciprocal tests range from 1.75-5.5.