Abstract

CERVANTES-DIAZ, Lourdes et al. Detection of geminivirus associated to alstroemeria (alstroemeria l.) In villa guerrero, state of Mexico. INCI [online]. 2009, vol.34, n.12, pp.903-908. ISSN 0378-1844.

In alstroemeria (Alstroemeria L.) plantations located in Villa Guerrero, Mexico State, plants with symptoms similar to those induced by geminivirus in other horticultural crops have been detected. In addition, the presence of whiteflies, which are considered the most efficient vectors of these viruses, has been observed in these plantations. The goal of this work was to detect the presence of this geminivirus species in alstroemeria plants. By means of PCR analysis using primers MotCP2118/MotCP2123, a fragment of ~600pb similar to the amplicon obtained from PHYVV-infected positive control was amplified only from symptomatic plants. Nicotiana glutinosa, N. benthamiana, N. rustica, N. tabacum var. xanthi and Datura stramonium plants were inoculated by bombardment with total DNA obtained from symptomatic alstroemerias and positive to PHYVV by means of PCR. Inoculated plants showed mild mosaics and deformation of leaves, whereas in the leaves of Capsicum annum plants, mosaics, vein necrosis and blisters were observed. Using DNA from these plants as template in PCR, amplicons corresponded to PHYVV were also obtained; however, in bombarded monocotyledons, including alstroemeria, this fragment was not detected. The sequence of oligonucleotides from the PCR products showed 98% homology to PHYVV geminivirus. Even though symptoms presented by alstroemeria plants in the field were not reproduced, the presence of a geminivirus similar to PHYVV in tissue of symptomatic plants was evidenced through PCR.

Keywords : Alstroemeria; Biobalística; Detección; Geminivirus; Ornamentales; PCR.