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Bull. Spec. CORESTA Congress, Jerez de la Frontera, 1992, p. 159, P19, ISSN.0525-6240

Tobacco viruses in Greece

KATIS N.; CHRYSSOCHOOU A.; WOODS R.
University of Thessaloniki, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Thessaloniki, Greece.
In the growing seasons 1990 and 1991, a number of leaf samples with virus-like symptoms (mosaic, leaf distortion, stunting and necrosis) were collected from tobacco fields. A total of 25 tobacco fields, located in the main growing areas (Drama, Serres, Katerini, Agrinio) in Greece were surveyed for viruses. Virus identification was based on electron microscopy, biological indexing to a limited number of test plants, aphid or thrips transmission and serology (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA). The indicator plants used were : Nicotiana glutinosa, Nicotiana tabacum cv. white Burley, Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, Vigna sinensis and Datura stramonium. From samples with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, the following viruses were detected : Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), potato virus Y (PVY), tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). AMV, CMV, PVY and TMV were found to all surveyed areas. TRV was detected only in Katerini area whereas TSWV was detected in Drama and Serres. PVY has mainly appeared in fields adjacent to potato crops and/or with volunteer potato plants. The importance and some of the characteristics of these viruses will be considered.