Viruses in Salix grown for bioenergy

A study was completed to determine if willows propagated vegetatively for b ioenergy in New York State were infected by viruses. Unrooted, dormant cutt ings from 10 willow clones were planted in a greenhouse. Four months later the young foliage and roots were tested for tomato mosaic tobamovirus, toba cco necrosis necrovirus (TNV), and brome mosaic bromovirus by double-antibo dy sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All three viruses were detec ted in the roots of some plants, but rarely in foliage. Every clone was inf ected with at least one virus. Tobacco mosaic virus and TNV were also trans mitted to Chenopodium quinoa from extracts of roots collected from field-gr own willows. Imported willow material may be virus-infected.