ABSTRACT
In July 1999, Hibiscus esculentus plants, grown in garden plots in Galilee, Israel, exhibited chlorosis, vein clearing accompanied by necrosis, and growth reduction. All samples (n = 10) tested positive for Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using a polyclonal antibody produced in our laboratory against purified virus. Virus in crude sap extracted from symptomatic tissue was mechanically transmitted to Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi nc and White Burley, N. clevelandii, N. benthamiana, N. sylvestris, and N. rustica, all of which developed symptoms characteristic of TuMV infection (1). ELISA testing of leaf sap extracted from mechanically inoculated indicator plants gave a strong positive reaction to TuMV. Leaf dip preparations of H. esculentus were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Filamentous virus particles typical of a potyvirus were observed in samples from symptomatic leaves. General primer pairs, which cover the complete 3'-end of the potyvirus genome were used in a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR), gave an expected amplification product of approximately 300 bp. The nucleotide sequence of the PCR product was 97% identical to the CP sequence of other TuMV, thus verifying TuMV infection of H. esculentus. This is the first report of H. esculentus infection by TuMV. Reference: (1) A. Gera et al. J. Phytopathol. 145:289-293, 1997.
ABSTRACT
Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV), a new tospovirus associated with a disease in onion (Allium cepa) that is known to growers in Israel as "straw bleaching," was identified and further characterized by host range, serology, electron microscopy, and molecular analysis of the nucleocapsid gene. The transmissibility of IYSV by Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis was studied. IYSV was efficiently transmitted by T. tabaci from infected to healthy onion seedlings and leaf pieces. Two biotypes of F. occidentalis, collected from two different locations in Israel, failed to transmit the virus. Surveys to relate the incidence of thrips populations to that of IYSV were conducted in onion fields. They revealed that the onion thrips T. tabaci was the predominant thrips species, and that its incidence was strongly related to that of IYSV. Forty-five percent of the thrips population collected from IYSV-infected onion and garlic fields in Israel transmitted the virus. IYSV was not transmitted to onion seedlings from infected mother plants through the seed, and was not located in bulbs of infected plants.
ABSTRACT
Unusual viral symptoms were seen on lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum) grown in the Besor area in Israel. Symptoms included necrotic spots and rings on leaves and systemic necrosis. Preliminary analyses suggested that the disease was caused by a tospovirus. Virus particles typical of a tospovirus were observed with electron microscopy in samples taken only from symptomatic leaves. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests of leaf sap, extracted from lisianthus and mechanically inoculated indicator plants, gave a strong positive reaction to Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV). Polyclonal antibodies prepared against IYSV enabled specific detection of the virus in crude sap from infected plants. Western blot analysis showed that IYSV was serologically distinct from Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Primers specific to the nucleocapsid gene of IYSV were used in a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) to verify the presence of IYSV. RT-PCR gave an expected PCR product of approximately 850 bp. The sequence of the cloned nucleocapsid gene confirmed the identity of IYSV, thus confirming IYSV infection of lisianthus. This is the first report of IYSV infection in dicotyledons.
ABSTRACT
Conscious rats were infused via a jugular vein catheter with 5 x 10-6 g/kg/h caerulein for periods up to 24 h. On macroscopic inspection a progressive interstitial oedema is seen to develop in the pancreas, from one hour of infusion on and is most marked at twelve hours. This oedema is largely reabsorbed after 24 h treatment, but the pancreas is considerably indurated by this time. Serum amylase levels increase consistently to reach a tenfold elevation above controls after three, six or twelve hours infusion. Premature fusion of condensing vacuoles and secretory granules leads to formation of large vacuoles in the cytoplasm of exocrine pancreatic cells. These vacuoles fuse with the lateral and basal plasma membrane and realease their content into the extracellular space. Regular discharge of zymogen granules at the cell apex into the duct system does not occur. Vacuole formation is associated with cytoplasmic destruction of the pancreatic cells. The rate of protein synthesis decreases consistently as a result of these structural alterations and this change corresponds largely to a reduction of cellular respiration. Release of amylase from isolated pancreatic lobules of caerulein infused animals shows a progressive increase of unstimulated discharge, while in vitro stimulation with 5 x 10-6M carbamylcholine gives secretion patterns of wash-out kinetics. Stimulated discharge of labeled secretory proteins indicates a progressive reduction in the in vitro sensitivity of the pancreatic cells to secretagogues. After 24 h infusion of 5 x 10-6 g/kg/h caerulein the pancreatic lobules are totally insensitive to the in vitro effect of carbamylcholine or caerulein.
