Abstract:
A geminivirus, related to Indian cassava mosaic virus (ICMV) was
detected in fifteen samples of cassava collected from different areas of the
island. The virus was transmitted by sap inoculation to herbaceous hosts
and graft inoculation to cassava. The isolates tested showed a narrow host
range. The virus was detected in many varities of Manihot esculenta and
ceara rubber (wild cassava) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The virus was purified from systemically
infected Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Geminate particles of
18-20x 30 nm in size were observed by electron microscopy. An atiserum
was prepared and the titre was found to be 1/32 as determined by gel double
diffusion. This polyclonal antiserum detected geminiviruses of Acalypha
mosaic disease and Ageratum yellow vein disease but not the geminivirus
of Hibiscus yellow vein disease in indirect ELISA.
