NATURAL RESERVOIRS OF BEET NECROTIC YELLOW VEIN FUROVIRUS (BNYVV)

46 plant species belonging to 20 families, collected from three fields of Slovakia, known to be infested with rhizomania, were assayed by di rect double - antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS -ELISA) for BNYVV incidence. Most of species infected by BNYVV include d plants of the family Asteraceae, which are new, not yet described na tural hosts of this virus. Their infection could be regarded as modera te. We believe, that some weed species may act as the natural reservoi rs of the virus and its vector - fungus Polymyxa betae especially in t he regions where the sugar beet is not cultivated. These results contr ibute to the knowledge of epidemiology of the rhizomania disease.