Abstract

Rakib A. Al-Ani, Mustafa A. Adhab and Kareem A. H. Ismail

A possible new potyvirus infecting eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) was characterized from Iraq. The
virus caused characteristic mottling, crinkling, blistering and stunting accompanied by severe
abnormalities on new leaves and fruits. The virus was mechanically transmitted to Gomphrena globosa
and Zinnia elegans producing necrotic local lesions (NLL) within 5 days of inoculation. The virus
induced systemic latent infection on Chenopodium amaranticolor unlike any other known eggplant
virus. The other test plants reacted systemically to the virus with different symptoms. No symptoms
were observed on Chenopodium quinoa, Chenopodium murale, Vigna unguiculata, Capsicum annum,
and Phaseolus vulgaris. Results of virus-vector relationship showed that, the virus transmitted by
Myzus persicae in non-persistant manner. Purified preparation of the virus with absorption ratio 260/280
nm of 1.26, and yield of 4.45 mg/100 g virus infected was obtained. SDS-PAGE separation of purified
viral particles indicated viral coat protein of 29 Kd. Electron microscopy of negatively stained crude
extracts from symptomatic eggplants revealed flexuous particles of 720 nm. An antiserum at titer of
1/1024 against the purified virus was also prepared by four intramuscular injections of the virus. Based
on the differences in symptoms on herbaceous host plants and similarity to potyvirus particles and
coat protein (CP) size, we propose the name eggplant blister mottled virus (EBMV) for this possible new
virus, member of potyvirus genus, characterized for the first time from Iraq.