CHARACTERIZATION OF CUCUMBER MOSAIC-VIRUS ISOLATES FROM CALIFORNIA

Thirty cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) isolates from California were characterized biologically (host reaction and thermosensitivity), serologically (protein A sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [PAS-ELISA]) and physically (viral capsid protein migration in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [PAGE], peptide mapping, and migration of viral double-stranded RNAs [dsRNAs] in PAGE). All methods supported the classification of CMV isolates into two main subgroups, CMV-I and CMV-II. The subgroup CMV-I was divided further into CMV-Ia and CMV-Ib on the basis of host reaction and dsRNA patterns. A low molecular weight RNA 5, presumably a satellite RNA, was detected in two isolates. Peanut stunt virus, tomato aspermy virus, and CMV were distinguished from each other by PAS-ELISA, peptide mapping, and host reaction.