THE IDENTITY OF A SEED-BORNE MOSAIC VIRUS OF CHENOPODIUM AMARANTICOLOR AND C. QUINOA

Seedlings of Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa were found to contain a highly infectious, seed-borne virus that may remain latent. Under certain environmental conditions and following abrasion of the leaves with carborundum and water, infected, symptomless young plants develop visible systemic symptoms. The presence and erratic behavior of the virus in these species can lead to erroneous identification of the causal agent of diseases of other crops. The virus is restricted to the Chenopodiaceae and is similar to Chenopodium mosaic virus (= sowbane mosaic virus) in morphology and in physico-chemical properties. It is serologically related to Chenopodium star mottle virus, to a latent virus isolated from apple in the USA and, by inference, to Chenopodium mosaic virus.