FILAMENTOUS VIRUSES OF GARLIC IN ARGENTINA

Filamentous viruses of garlic (Allium sativum) in Argentina were identified by the serological techniques of immunosorbent electron microscopy plus quantitative decoration, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The most widely grown cultivars, Rosado Paraguayo, Colorado, and Blanco, were sampled from different areas in which the crops showed mosaic symptoms. Most samples proved to contain mixtures of filamentous viruses, particularly onion yellow dwarf and garlic yellow streak (potyviruses), and a carlavirus. The carlavirus reacted strongly (to near or beyond the stated homologous titers) with antisera to carnation latent virus produced in three different laboratories but did not react with antisera to garlic latent, shallot latent, and potato S viruses (all carlaviruses). The virus could be mechanically transmitted with difficulty to carnation. This appears to be the first report of a virus closely related to carnation latent virus infecting garlic.