ImmunoStrip for detection of tomato aspermy virus

Tomato aspermy virus (TAV) is a member of the Cucumovirus genus and infects a wide range of economically important hosts, including Canna, Chrysanthemum, several species of Lilium, pepper, tobacco and tomato.  This virus was first described in 1949 infecting tomato, causing severe leaf distortion and seedless fruit.  Nevertheless, TAV outbreaks are uncommon on this member of Solanaceae, and it is not considered an important virus infecting tomato.  Tomato aspermy virus is widespread in cultivated chrysanthemums, and outbreaks are common throughout regions where they are grown extensively, including Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and North America.

Symptomology of TAV infection on Chrysanthemum varies by cultivar but typically includes plant stunting, chlorotic leaf mottling and severe flower break, dwarfing and distortion.  These symptoms lead to reduction in yield and render plants unmarketable for floral and landscape purposes.  Furthermore, many cultivars are asymptomatic, functioning as latent reservoirs of infected propagative materials.  And, it is through international movement of infected propagative materials, including vegetative cuttings, that long-distance dispersal of TAV is accomplished.  This dissemination paradigm is applicable to all ornamental hosts of this virus.

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Photo by Dagerotip George on Unsplash

Source: Ag News