PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF REOVIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH GARLIC DWARF DISEASE

A dwarfing disease of garlic (Allium sativum) has recently been noted in southern France. Affected plants were stunted and had thickened lea ves that sometimes developed vein swellings or enations and a darker g reen colour; leaves often had purple tips and an abnormal phyllotaxy. The root system was poor and the bulb spongy, containing few normal cl oves. A previously undescribed virus, here named garlic dwarf virus (G DV), was associated with the syndrome and has been partially purified. The particle morphology, electrophoretic pattern of dsRNA segments an d cytopathology were similar to those of Fijiviruses (Reoviridae). Lim ited serological and nucleic acid hybridization tests did not, however , reveal any relationship with members of the Reoviridae. Apart from o ne preliminary Australian report of a reo-like virus in lilies from Ja pan, this is the first description of a reo-like virus affecting a mon ocotyledonous host outside the Gramineae.