Plant virus investigation in the Institute of Botany Vilnius, Lithuania

Juozas Staniulis Head of the Plant Virus Laboratory Institute of Botany

Zaliuju Ezeru 49, LT-08406, Vilnius, LithuaniaE-mail: fitvirus@botanika.lt

Staff of the Plant Virus Lab.:

• Dr. Habil. Juozas STANIULIS – woody plants, el. microscopy • Dr. Habil. Meletėlė NAVALINSKIENĖ– ornamental plants • Dr. Marija SAMUITIENĖ – ornamental plants• Dr. Rasa JOMANTIENĖ – phytoplasmas• Dr. Irena ZITIKAITĖ – vegetables• Dr. Laima URBANAVIČIENĖ – cereals• Dr. Deividas VALIŪNAS – phytoplasmas

• Methods used:– Plant indicators,– Serological:

• Immunodiffusion• ELISA

– Transmission electron microscopy:• negative staining,• Immunosorbent EM,• immunogold labelling,• ultrathin sectioning.

– Polymerase chain reaction

Viruses detected:

• In 83 genus of the ornamental plants investigated, 48 viruses were detected,– most often detected were: ToRSV, TRV, ToSWV, CMV, TNV,

TMV • In cereal plants were identified: BYDV, Cocksfoot streak V,

Ryegrass MV.• In horticultural plants were detected: PPV, TNV, RBDV• In vegetable plants identified:• CMV, ToMV, TMV, TNV, OYDV, LYSV.

Viruses causing some problems

• Cereals• Barley: Barley yellow dwarf luteovirus• Grasses• Cocksfoot: Cocksfoot streak potyvirus• Festuca: Festuca necrosis closterovirus• Ryegrass: Ryegrass mosaic rymovirus•• Potatoes: Carlaviruses, Potyviruses, Potato X virus• Other• Sugar beet: Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (just detected)• Beet yellows viruses• Viruses of Horticultural crops• Field Vegetables• Carrot: Carrot red leaf luteovirus,• Carrot mottle virus • Cucumber: Cucumber mosaic virus• Tomato: Tomato mosaic virus•• Protected Vegetables• Tomatoes: Tomato mosaic virus•• Cucumber: Tobacco necrosis virus,• Cucumber green mottle virus• Ornamentals: Tomato spotted wilt virus,• Tobacco rattle virus• Protected Ornamentals: Tomato ringspot nepovirus,• Tobacco necrosis necrovirus•• Top Fruit • Plums: Plum pox virus (controlled, under irradication)•• Others - not investigated• Soft Fruit• Raspberies: Raspberry bushy dwarf virus,• Tobacco necrosis virus• Strawberries: Tobacco necrosis virus