A mathematical model to predict the outcome of preserving plant viruses has
been developed. The survival of two cucumber mosaic virus strains lyophili
zed in leaves and in protected plant sap was evaluated using an accelerated
storage test at 28, 37 and 45 degreesC. The combinations of 5% (w/v) sorbi
tol and 7% (w/v) glucose with 3.6% (w/v) dextran 40 000 were applied as pro
tecting media. The predicted values to a great extent correspond to the exp
erimental data, achieved after 1, 4 and 7 years of storage.