Cynosurus and Cocksfoot Mottle Viruses: a Comparison

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Abstract
The biological, physical and chemical properties of New Zealand isolates of cocksfoot mottle (CfMV) and cynosurus mottle (CyMV) viruses were compared. The 2 viruses could be distinguished by host range differences and serological properties but their physical and chemical properties were similar. The virus particles differed in their buoyant density in CsCl (1.386 g/ml for CfMV; 1.379 g/ml for CyMV) and in their banding behavior in Cs2SO4 gradients (CfMV formed 2 bands at pH 5 while CyMV formed only 1). CyMV was degraded by low concentrations of SDS [sodium dodecyl sulfate] at pH 7 while CfMV was resistant except in the presence of EDTA. The viral RNA were comparable in MW but differed in their amount of secondary structure and sedimentation values. Molecular hybridization studies using 3H-labeled complementary DNA probes indicated that the RNA genomes of the 2 viruses had .apprx. 5-8% of their base sequences in common. Both viruses were detected in the nuclei of infected [wheat or oat] cells. However, CfMV, unlike CyMV, formed crystalline arrays in the cytoplasm. Evidently, although New Zealand isolates of CyMV and CfMV share some similar properties, they are distinct viruses.