Identification and subgrouping of Cucumber mosaic virus with mouse monoclonal antibodies

Using a mixture of isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) from subgroups I and II as immunogens, 20 mouse hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal a ntibodies were produced. A reliable method for efficient detection and accu rate subgrouping of CMV isolates has been developed. Tests with 12 well-cha racterized strains of CMV and other cucumoviruses demonstrated the presence of epitopes that were virus and subgroup specific. Analyses of 109 accessi ons of CMV isolates collected from various parts of the world revealed 70% were subgroup I, with 20% identified as subgroup II. Seven isolates (6%) di d not react with group-specific antibodies but did react with antibodies th at recognized all CMV isolates. Differential reactions among isolates sugge sted a total of 10 epitopes were recognized. The antigenic diversity among subgroup II CMVs was greater than for the subgroup I isolates, even though fewer subgroup II isolates were tested.