PASSAGE OF A MARINE BROWN ALGAL DNA VIRUS FROM ECTOCARPUS-FASCICULATUS (ECTOCARPALES, PHAEOPHYCEAE) TO MYRIOTRICHIA-CLAVAEFORMIS (DICTYOSIPHONALES, PHAEOPHYCEAE) - INFECTION SYMPTOMS AND RECOVERY

A dsDNA virus (EfasV-1) isolated from Ectocarpus fasciculatus Harvey i nfected Myriotrichia clavaeformis Harvey, a species belonging to a dif ferent brown algal order. The virus did not complete its infection cyc le in the foreign host but caused infertility due to malformed reprodu ctive structures. After some time in culture, the host's reproductive capacity was sometimes restored with concomitant loss of at least part of the viral genome. This incidence of interordinal virus transfer is discussed in relation to possibilities for virus-mediated horizontal gene transfer in brown algae.