Narcissus latent, a virus with filamentous particles and a novel combination of properties

Summary As previously reported, narcissus latent virus (NLV) has flexuous filamentous particles measuring c. 650 nm × 13 nm, is manually transmissible to Nicotiana clevelandii and Tetragonia expansa, and is transmitted by the aphid Myzus persicae following brief acquisition access periods. In contrast to previous reports the virus particle protein has an apparent mol. wt of c. 45 kD. Moreover, infected cells in N. clevelandii leaves contain cytoplasmic inclusion bodies resembling those of potyviruses. In vitro translation of NLV RNA produced only one major product (mol. wt c. 25 kD) which was not precipitated by antisera to virus particle protein or to cytoplasmic inclusion protein. Antisera to 12 potyviruses and nine carlaviruses failed to react with sap containing NLV particles. Similarly antiserum to NLV particles did not react with particles of seven potyviruses or four carlaviruses. A weak reaction was detected between NLV particles and antiserum to particles of maclura mosaic virus (MMV), a virus which resembles NLV in particle morphology and particle-protein size, and in inducing pinwheel inclusions. The cytoplasmic inclusion proteins (CIPs) of NLV, MMV and from narcissus plants with yellow stripe symptoms were serologically inter-related. These proteins were also serologically related to, and had mol. wt similar to, the CIP of members of the potyvirus group. Particles with the size and antigenic specificity of those of NLV were found consistently in narcissus plants with yellow stripe disease. Narcissus latent and narcissus yellow stripe viruses therefore seem to be synonymous and, together with MMV, have properties distinct from those of any previously described virus group.