Change in Caco-2 cells following treatment with various lavender essential oils.

Lavender is an aromatic evergreen shrub diffused in the Mediterranean basin appreciated since antiquity. The genus Lavandula is part of Lamiaceae family and includes more than 20 species, among which true lavender (L. vera D.C. or L. angustifolia Miller.) and spike lavender (L. latifolia Medikus); there are also numerous hybrids known as lavandins (L. hybrida Rev.). L. vera, spike lavender and several hybrids are the most intensely used breeding species for the production of essential oils. Lavender and lavandin essential oils have been applied in food, pharmaceutical and other agro industries as biological products. In their chemical composition, terpenes linalool and linalyl acetate along with terpenoids such as 1,8-cineole are mostly responsible for biological and therapeutic activities. This study evaluates cytotoxic activity of essential oils derived from four lavender species on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Analysis of pre- and post-treatment cell morphology has been performed using scanning electron microscope.

Dieback and Wilting Caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus in Arctotis × hybrida in Italy.

In winter 2012, some potted plants of African daisy (Arctotis × hybrida L., family Asteraceae) cv. Hannah, propagated by rooted stem cuttings and cultivated for commercial purposes in a greenhouse located at Albenga (Liguria region, Italy), were noticed for a rapid dieback, generalized reddening, following by an irreversible wilting. Around 130 plants on a total of 3,000 cultivated plants showed symptoms (4 to 5%). One gram of fresh leaves, each collected from three different symptomatic plants, was ground in 4 ml of cold (∼5°C) sodium phosphate 0.03 M buffer, containing 0.2% sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, 75 mg/ml of active charcoal, and traces of carborundum (600 mesh). The inoculum was rubbed on healthy indicator herbaceous plants and inoculated plants were maintained in an insect-proof greenhouse with natural illumination and temperatures of 24/18°C day/night. Healthy and buffer inoculated plants were also included in the test and used as negative control in the subsequent serological and molecular analysis. Sap-inoculated plants showed the following symptoms after 1 to 3 weeks: necrotic local lesions in Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa, yellowing and stunting following by systemic necrosis and death of the plants in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. San Marzano), necrotic local lesions following by systemic necrotic patterns and leaf deformation in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc.) and N. glutinosa, necrotic local lesions in petunia (Petunia × hybrida cv. Pink Beauty). No symptoms were recorded on buffer inoculated plants. Leaf samples from both symptomatic hosts and the three original symptomatic African daisy plants were tested by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA with polyclonal antisera against Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tospoviruses (Tospovirus broad-spectrum, Serogroups I, II, and III, Bioreba AG, Switzerland). Positive reaction was obtained with Tospo-groups antibodies, but not with the CMV ones. Total RNA was extracted from infected leaves of African daisy with the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) and subjected to reverse transcription (RT)-PCR by using the tospovirus universal primers BR60/BR65 that amplify part of the nucleocapsid protein gene (1). Target amplicons of 454 bp were produced for all samples tested. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced on both strands (one clone per amplicon cloned). The resulting sequences were 100% identical, so a single sequence was deposited in GenBank (HF913777). The sequence showed highest homology (99%) with the Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) tomato isolate NJ-JN from South Korea (HM581936). The identity of the virus infecting African daisy was further confirmed by sequencing amplicons obtained by RT-PCR using primers partially covering the movement protein gene of TSWV (2). The sequence obtained (HF913776) showed the highest homology (99%) with three TSWV isolates: a tomato isolate from Spain (AY744493), a pepper isolate from South Korea (AB663306), and again the tomato NJ-JN isolate from South Korea (HM581936). To our knowledge, this is the first natural report of TSWV infecting African daisy plants. Moreover, since this ornamental is often cultivated with other flowering plants, it can act as reservoir for the virus that can infect other ornamentals and crops, considering that TSWV has a very broad host range (3). This result also represents the first finding of TSWV in the genus Arctotis, family Asteraceae, the greater botanical family of TSWV hosts (3). References: (1) M. Eiras et al. Fitopatol. Bras. 26:170, 2001. (2) M. M. Finetti et al. J. Plant Pathol. 84:145, 2002. (3) G. Parrella et al. J. Plant Pathol. 85:227. 2003.

First Record of Alfalfa mosaic virus in Teucrium fruticans in Italy.

The Teucrium genus (Lamiaceae family) contains ~300 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs with some species widely used as ornamental plants in rock gardens. During the springs of 2010 and 2011, some plants of Teucrium fruticans L., also known as "tree germander", growing singly in pots in a Ligurian nursery (Savona Province, northern Italy), were noted for a bright yellow calico mosaic on the leaves (~1% of ~2,000 plants inspected exhibited symptoms). Preliminary electron microscope observations of leaf-dips showed semispherical to bacilliform particles, consistent with Alfamovirus and Oleavirus, in preparations obtained only from leaves of symptomatic plants. Three symptomatic and two asymptomatic plants were checked for Cucumber mosaic virus or Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) in protein A sandwich (PAS)-ELISA with commercial kits (Bioreba, Reinach, Switzerland) and Olive latent virus 2 (OLV2) by immunodecoration of virus particles with an OLV2 antiserum produced against an Italian OLV2 isolate. Symptomatic plants were positive only to AMV and all asymptomatic plants were negative to all viruses checked. The virus was successfully transmitted mechanically to Chenopodium amaranticolor and Ocimum basilicum that reacted, as expected for infections caused by AMV (1), with a chlorotic local lesion followed by mosaic and bright yellow mosaic, respectively. The disease was transmitted also by grafting an infected scion on healthy T. fruticans. Symptoms appeared after ~3 weeks in one plant of six grafted. AMV infection in a symptomatic grafted plant was verified by PAS-ELISA, confirming that bright yellow mosaic symptoms observed in T. fruticans were induced by an isolate of AMV. Immunocapture reverse transcription (IC-RT)-PCR assay, following the protocol described by Wetzel et al. (4), was performed on leaf extracts from one symptomatic plant using a polyclonal serum raised against a French isolate of AMV, provided by H. Lot (INRA, Station de Pathologie Végétale, Avignon, France). Specific AMV primer pair was used in the RT-PCR reactions (2). A DNA fragment of ~750 bp, covering the entire coat protein gene (CP), was obtained after IC-RT-PCR. The amplicon was gel purified with the Wizard SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System (Promega, Madison, WI), cloned into pGEMT-easy vector (Promega) and two independent clones sequenced on both strands at MWG Biotech (Ebersberg, Germany). The consensus sequence was submitted to EMBL (No. FR854391). Pairwise comparison of the AMV-T. fruticans isolate CP sequence (named Tef-1) with those of AMV reference isolates revealed the maximum (98.0 to 97.3%) nucleotide identities with isolates belonging to subgroup I, 95.5 to 94.0% identities with subgroup IIA isolates, and 95.6% identity with the subgroup IIB isolate Tec-1 (3). Among subgroup I isolates, Tef-1 had the maximum CP nucleotide identity with the CP gene belonging to an AMV isolate identified in 2010 in Lavandula stoechas in the same geographic area, suggesting a common origin for these two viral isolates. Overall results clearly indicate that an AMV isolate was the causal agent of the calico-type mosaic observed in T. fruticans. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. fruticans as a natural host of AMV. References: (1) G. Marchoux et al. Page 163 in: Virus des Solanacées. Quae éditions, Versailles, 2008. (2) G. +Parrella et al. Arch. Virol. 145:2659, 2000. (3) G. Parrella et al. Arch. Virol. 156:1049, 2011. (4) T. Wetzel et al. J. Virol. Methods 39:27, 1992.

First Record and Complete Nucleotide Sequence of Alfalfa mosaic virus from Lavandula stoechas in Italy.

During spring 2009, lavender plants (Lavandula stoechas L.) showing a bright yellow mosaic of calico type and light stunting were observed in a commercial nursery in Liguria Province in northern Italy. Of 300 plants inspected, ~2% were symptomatic. Preliminary observations of leaf sap with the transmission electron microscope revealed bacilliform virus-like particles in three symptomatic plants, whereas no virus-like particles were observed in asymptomatic plants. The same symptomatic plants were tested by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA with polyclonal antisera against Cucumber mosaic virus, Potato virus Y, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV). All three plants reacted positively against AMV antibodies, but not the other antibodies. A crude sap extract obtained from a single symptomatic plant, hereafter referred to as the Lst isolate, was prepared by macerating 1 g of fresh leaves in 4 ml of sodium phosphate 0.03 M, containing 0.2% sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, 75 mg/ml of active charcoal, and traces of Carborundum (600 mesh). Sap extract was mechanically inoculated onto a set of herbaceous hosts. Inoculated plants were maintained in an insect-proof greenhouse with natural illumination and temperatures of 24 and 18°C day/night. Under these conditions, plants showed the following symptoms after 1 to 3 weeks: necrotic local lesions in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., cv. Borlotto) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., cv. Black eye); necrotic local lesions followed by systemic necrosis in broad bean (Vicia faba L., cv. Super Simonia) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. San Marzano); and bright yellow mosaic (calico type) in basil (Ocimum basilicum L., cv. Gigante). To sequence the entire genome of the Lst isolate, total RNA was extracted from infected samples with the RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) and subjected to AMV-specific reverse transcription-PCR by using four primer pairs for each genomic RNA of overlapping oligonucleotides according to the complete genome sequence of AMV 425L isolate (GenBank No. L00163 for RNA1, X01572 for RNA2, and K03542 for RNA3). The 5'- and 3'-terminals regions of each RNA were amplified with the strategy described by Lozano et al. (1) and specific AMV oligonucleotides designed for the corresponding viral RNA. The complete genome of the AMV-Lst isolate comprised 3,643 nucleotides for RNA1 (No. FN667965), 2,593 nucleotides for RNA2 (No. FN667966), and 2,038 nucleotides for RNA3 (No. FN667967). Comparative sequence analyses revealed that the AMV-Lst isolate from Italy shared overall nucleotide sequence identities with the AMV isolate 425L of 97.1, 95.5, and 94.7% for RNA1, 2, and 3, respectively. P1 and P2 replicase genes and the movement protein and coat protein (CP) genes of AMV-Lst isolate showed, respectively, 97.2, 95.1, 96.2, and 97.8% identity with those from the 425L isolate. The AMV-Lst CP gene was shorter by nine nucleotides compared with the CP gene of 425L. A phylogenetic tree, obtained with neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods, showed that the Lst isolate grouped within subgroup I of AMV isolates confirmed that the differences between subgroups I and II correlate mainly with the geographic origin of isolates (2). Lst represents the first Italian isolate of AMV completely sequenced, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of this virus in L. stoechas. References: (1) G. Lozano et al. Arch. Virol. 151:581, 2006. (2) G. Parrella et al. Arch. Virol. 145:2659, 2000.

First Report of Tomato spotted wilt virus on Coprosma repens (Mirror Bush) in Italy.

Coprosma repens A. Rich. (mirror bush, Rubiaceae) is a hardy salt tolerant shrub that is native to New Zealand where it is primarily a coastal weed. In temperate climates, many variegated varieties and hybrids of mirror bush grow extensively in gardens. In February 2007, irregular or semicircular necrotic spots, sometimes in concentric rings, were noticed on leaves of approximately 2,000 potted, 1-year-old plants of C. repens 'Tapuata Gold' obtained as cuttings from a nursery located in Catania Province. The symptoms were detected on approximately 60% of the plants and were localized exclusively on older leaves especially in the yellow or white border. Protein A sandwich (PAS)-ELISA showed mirror bush was positive for the Batavian lettuce strain of Tomato spotted wilt virus (antiserum to TSWV: PVAS-450 from American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA). Double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA with polyclonal antisera to Cucumber mosaic virus, TSWV, and Impatiens necrotic spot virus confirmed the presence of only TSWV. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was employed to characterize the TSWV isolate. RT-PCR was carried out with primers (forward 5'-TTA ACT TAC AGC TGC TTT-3' and reverse 5'-CAA AGC ATA TAA GAA CTT-3') specific for the CP gene of TSWV (3). Amplification was performed in a thermal cycler (Gene Amp PCR System 24000; Perkin Elmer, Hayward, CA) by preheating at 94°C for 5 min followed by 30 cycles of 1.5 min of denaturation at 94°C, 2 min of annealing at 48°C, and 1 min for extension at 72°C. Finally, the amplified DNA was incubated at 72°C for 7 min for a final extension. All samples yielded DNA fragments of the expected size of 823 bp, which included the entire N gene. Purified PCR products were cloned and sequencing (GenBank Accession No. EU020104) was done by Sequiserve (Vatterstetten, Germany). Comparison with sequences available from the GenBank database showed 96 to 99% homology with the same region of the genome for all TSWV isolates, thus confirming the identity of the virus as an isolate of TSWV. In the Rubiaceae family, TSWV was previously detected on Galium spp., Ixora spp., Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, and Bouvardia sp. (1,2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first occurrence of this virus on a member of the genus Coprosma. The high incidence of the disease in the nursery could be due to propagation of cuttings from an infected source. References: (1) M. K. Hausbeck et al. Plant Dis. 76:795, 1992. (2) C. Jordá et al. Plant Dis. 79:358, 1995. (3) R. A. Mumford et al. J. Virol. Methods 46:303, 1994. (4) A. M. Vaira et al. Plant Pathol. 42:530,1993.

First Report of a Disease of Peony Caused by Alfalfa mosaic virus.

During the summers of 2001 and 2002, Japanese peony (Paeonia albiflora Pall., synonym P. lactiflora, family Paeoniaceae) plants, cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the University of Parma (Emilia Romagna Region of northern Italy), were found affected by a disease with virus-like symptoms. The oldest leaves showed yellow, mosaic, oak-like arabesques and line-patterns; the remaining leaves and pink flowers were symptomless. A disease of peony, known as peony ring spot disease, has been reported worldwide (Europe, United States, Japan, and New Zeland) for several years and is associated with strains of Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) (1). Electron microscopic observations of peony leaf sap (leaf dip preparations stained with uranyl acetate and phospotungstic acid) did not show the presence of any rod-shaped virus particles, including TRV. Mechanical inoculations of sap from symptomatic leaves caused symptoms typical of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) on Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. (local chlorotic and necrotic lesions and systemic periveinal line-patterns), Ocimum basilicum L. (yellow mosaic), Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. (red, local necrotic lesions), and Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun (white, necrotic lesions, systemic leaf malformation, and mosaic), and N. glutinosa L. (systemic leaf variegation). Symptomatic leaves of peony and infected herbaceous plants were analyzed for virus presence by protein A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PAS-ELISA). The polyclonal antisera tested were those to AMV (PVAS 92, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA), AMV-Vinca minor L. (DiSTA collection, Italy), and the nepoviruses Strawberry latent ringspot virus, Tomato ringspot virus, and Cherry leaf roll virus. PAS-ELISA revealed only the presence of AMV. Immunoelectron microscopy and gold-labeled decoration confirmed the identity of the virus. In 2001, five symptomless peony plants (provided by a commercial grower and previously analyzed for AMV and TRV presence) were grafted with shoots from peony showing yellow mosaic on the leaves and maintained in a greenhouse under aphid-proof cage. During the summer of 2002, one of the grafted plants showed a mild mosaic on the leaves; PAS-ELISA revealed this peony was infected by AMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AMV in peony. Reference: (1) Chang et al. Ann. Phytopathol. Soc. Jpn. 42:325, 1976.

Cynoglossum officinale, a New Natural Host of Alfalfa mosaic virus.

Cynoglossum officinale L. (family Boraginaceae), hound's-tongue, is a medicinal plant whose roots are used for their astringent and healing properties and for their sedative, calming, and slightly narcotic effects. This species, originating from Europe where it grows wild in mountainous fields, is cultivated only for its medicinal properties. Epidemiological surveys performed in the Emilia Romagna Region of northern Italy in the spring and autumn of 2001 revealed the presence of virus-like symptoms on C. officinale cultivated in two different locations. In the Botanical Garden of the University of Bologna, the plants showed stunting, interveinal chlorotic spots, midrib necrosis, and scarce or no seed production. In the experimental field of the Agriculture Faculty of Bologna (Imola), the plants exhibited stunting, interveinal chlorotic spots, and reduction of leaf lamina. Mechanical inoculations of sap from symptomatic leaves caused typical symptoms of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AlMV) on Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. (local chlorotic, necrotic lesions and systemic chlorotic vein streaking), Vigna unguicolata (L.) Walp., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. (local necrotic lesions). Using an electron microscope, examination of leaf sap obtained from infected plants stained with uranyl acetate and phosphotungstic acid did not show the presence of elongated virus particles. Serological tests, such as immunoelectron microscopy, gold-labeled decoration, and protein A sandwich indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using antiserum to AMV (PVAS 92, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA, and AlMV-Vinca minor L., from the DiSTA collection, Bologna, Italy as a control), gave positive reactions, indicating that the virus in question was AlMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of virus infection on C. officinale, a new natural host of AlMV.

Chromatographic (GC-MS, HPLC) and virological evaluations of Salvia sclarea infected by BBWV-I.

Salvia sclarea cultivated at the Herb Garden of Casola-Valsenio (Emilia-Romagna region, Italy) has been found for the first time naturally infected by broad bean wilt fabavirus, serotype I (BBWV-I). Symptomatic plants showed malformed leaves, with chlorotic mosaic followed by yellowing and stunting. BBWV-I was identified by applying virological tests: mechanical inoculations on herbaceous plants, electron microscopy, DAS-ELISA and PAS-ELISA. The essential oil obtained from BBWV-infected material corresponded to 2/3 the quantity of that from healthy material. The GC-MS and HPLC analyses of these oils afforded a comparative analytical profile of the two plant materials attributed to BBWV-I infection. The oils from infected materials showed higher percentages of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (e.g. germacrene D and beta-caryophyllene), monoterpene alcohols (e.g. alpha-terpineol) and diterpenoids (mainly sclareol). In contrast, lower levels of monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g. myrcene, limonene and the two ocimene isomers) and the principal components (linalyl acetate and linalool) were observed.

First Report of Broad bean wilt virus on Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.).

In the spring and summer of 1998, a severe virus-like disease consisting of chlorotic mottle on leaves, yellowing, and stunting was observed at the Giardino delle Erbe of Casola-Valsenio (Emila-Romagna region, northern Italy). Most of the symptomatic plants were infected with a filamentous virus that was not identified. Moreover, one thyme plant showing yellow leaves was also found infected by an isometric virus, the identity of which was established by the following host reactions and serological assay. It was mechanically transmitted to 33 species belonging to 11 botanical families. All the Chenopodiaceae (Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste et Reyn., C. murale L., C. foliosum Ash., and C. quinoa Willd.) tested showed local and systemic symptoms in 3 to 4 days; among Leguminosae, broad bean (Vicia faba L.) showed necrotic local lesions and wilt. Virus particles reacted in protein A sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the antiserum to Broad bean wilt virus (BBWV), serotype I (supplied from the Istituto di Fitovirologia Applicata, CNR, Turin, Italy). BBWV in the field was in all probability transmitted to thyme by aphids from weeds and/or other medicinal and aromatic species cultivated in the same herb garden, all recently shown to be hosts for BBWV: Polygonum fagopyrum L., Hedisarum coronarium L., Borago officinalis L., Phytolacca Americana L., Digitalis lanata Ehrh., and D. purpurea L. (1). This is the first report of BBWV in T. vulgaris and demonstrates that it is more prevalent in Italy than previously reported. References: (1) C. Rubies-Autonell and M. G. Bellardi. 1999. 7th International Plant Virus Epidemiology Symposium, Aguadulce, Spain.

Identification of an Isolate of Potato virus Y-Tuber Necrotic Strain on Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea).

In 1999, clary sage plants (Salvia sclarea L.) at the Herb Garden of Casola Valsenio (Emilia-Romagna Region, northern Italy) exhibited malformed leaves with yellow spots and line patterns. Sap from leaves of symptomatic sage plants caused symptoms in inoculated Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste et Reyn. plants (local chloro-necrotic lesions developed 7 to 10 days after inoculation) and Nicotiana tabacum L. 'White Burley' and 'Samsun' plants (systemic veinal necrosis developed ≈ 2 weeks after inoculation). Leaves from symptomatic sage plants tested positive for Potato virus Y (PVY) based on immunoelectron microscopy, gold-labeled decoration, and protein A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using antiserum to PVY (PVAS 50a, American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA). Double-antibody sandwich-ELISA, using specific monoclonal antibodies (BioReba AG, Reinach, Switzerland) to the tobacco veinal necrosis strain group of PVY (PVY-N), revealed that the PVY isolate from sage belonged to this group. Immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, using specific primers for PVY and the tuber necrotic strain of PVY (PVY-NTN), further classified the sage isolate as PVY-NTN (1). PVY-NTN causes serious damage to potato in Europe. Clary sage, one of the most important aromatic plants cultivated worldwide as a source of essential oils, represents a new natural host of PVY-NTN. Reference: (1) H. L. Weidemann and E. Maiss. J. Plant Dis. Prot. 103:337, 1996.

First Report of Celery Mosaic Potyvirus on Dill (Anethum graveolens).

In the spring and summer of 1997, nearly 90% of dill plants (Anethum graveolens L.) cultivated in a crop of Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy), exhibited viruslike symptoms. Approximately 30% of the plants showed narrowing of the leaf lamina and stunting that evolved to yellow or bronze color. The plants appeared bushy and had low seed production. Electron microscopy of leaf-dip preparations revealed the association of flexuous, potyvirus-like particles of 750 nm in length with diseased dill plants. The identity of this virus was established by differential host reactions and serological assays. It was mechanically transmitted only to Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste et Reyn. and C. quinoa Willd. plants (which showed local chloro-necrotic lesions after about a week), and Petunia × hybrida Hort. Vilm.-Andr. plants (latently infected). No infections were obtained in several inoculated Umbelliferae plants, including dill and celery (Apium graveolens L.). Therefore, our isolate is similar to that described by others (1,2) and unlike the type strain that infects only members of the Umbelliferae. Virus particles reacted in protein A sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with antiserum to celery mosaic potyvirus (CeMV) (supplied from the Istituto di Fitovirologia Applicata, CNR, Turin, Italy). This result was further confirmed by immunosorbent electron microscopy decoration tests. CeMV in the field was likely transmitted to dill by abundant aphid populations from weeds and/or other Umbelliferae species cultivated in the same location. In particular, the weed host Daucus carota L. and the cultivated Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. plants both exhibited bronze foliage and stunting, and were found to be infected by CeMV. This note represents the first report of CeMV in A. graveolens. References: (1) E. Luisoni et al. Ann. Phytopathol. 1:375, 1969. (2) C. Rubies-Autonell et al. Phytopathol Mediterr. 35:58, 1996.

First Report of Broad Bean Wilt Fabavirus on Polygonum fagopyrum.

Buckwheat (Polygonum fagopyrum L.) is an annual medicinal plant useful in convalescence and treatment of anemia. It is widely grown in Europe, where it is sometimes used as human food. In a survey made during 1995 to 1996 in the Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy), a virus was consistently isolated from plants showing yellow or chlorotic mottle on the leaves. It was mechanically transmitted to herbaceous hosts, including Chenopodium amaranticolor Coste et Reyn., C. murale L., C. quinoa Willd., Gomphrena globosa L., and Vicia faba L. (which showed systemic vein clearing, necrosis of terminal leaves, wilting, and death) and identified by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PAS-ELISA, using A protein) as broad bean wilt fabavirus (BBWV) serotype I. Moreover, elongated, potyvirus-like particles, 750 nm in length, were observed by electron microscopy of leaf dips from symptomatic leaf samples of P. fagopyrum. These particles were identified as turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) on the basis of differential host reactions and by serological assays, including PAS-ELISA, immunoelectron microscopy, and gold-labeled antibody decoration. Both BBWV and TuMV may have been transmitted to P. fagopyrum by the abundant aphid populations from other medicinal plants cultivated in the same location. In particular, Digitalis lanata Ehrh. and Hesperis matronalis L. were found to be infected by the same two viruses (50% of diseased plants). This note represents the first report of BBWV, alone or in mixed infections with TuMV, in P. fagopyrum.