Journal of Plant Pathology (2005) 87, 301-302

G. Parrella, A. De Stradis and C. Vovlas (2005)
Occurrence of Cucumber mosaic virus in Passiflora edulis in Italy
Journal of Plant Pathology 87 (4), 301-302
XII Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology, Reggio Calabria, 29/9 - 1/10, 2005 (poster)
Abstract: During spring 2005, symptoms of a disease consisting of striking coalescent yellow spots, pale mosaic and slight deformations of the leaves were observed on the canopy of some plants of Passiflora edulis Sims. (family Passifloraceae, commonly known as "purple passion fruit" or "granadilla", growing in a garden of the Naples area (southern Italy). The same plants showed pale coloration of the flowers whereas fruits were apparently normal. In summer, symptoms on the new vegetation became milder. Uranyl acetate stained leaf-dip preparations observed under the electron microscope showed isometric virus particles ca. 30 nm in diameter. Symptoms observed in herbaceous hosts plants, after mechanical inoculation with sap from symptomatic P. edulis leaves, and transmission tests with Myzus persicae indicated that Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was the likely agent of the disease. Virus identity was confirmed by DAS-ELISA with commercial antisera against CMV, made with leaf sap extracts from P. edulis and artificially inoculated symptomatic hosts (Nicotiana glutinosa, Nicotiana benthamiana). CMV has previously been reported as the agent of passiflora mosaic disease, from several tropical and subtropical countries (i.e. Australia, Africa, New Guinea, New Zealand), where granadilla cultivations are of economic importance. In Italy, P. edulis is grown as ornamental plant, mostly for its attractive flowers. This is the first report of CMV from P. edulis in Italy.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Giuseppe Parrella, Angelo De Stradis

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cucumber mosaic virus	Passionfruit (Passiflora)	Italy