SEED TRANSMISSION OF HIBISCUS LATENT RINGSPOT VIRUS (HLRSV)

Commercial seed lots of various cultivars of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinu s) were shown to transmit hibiscus latent ringspot virus (HLRSV) to pr ogeny seedlings in different percentages up to a maximum of 26%. In th ese greenhouse tests, no symptoms were observed in the infected seedli ngs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of dissected kenaf see ds suggested that seed infection occurs through the embryo. HLRSV was also shown to be seed transmitted in Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa, in 11% and in less than 1%, respectively, of the seed collecte d from mechanically inoculated plants. However, transmission of HLRSV through seed was not detected in Abutilon theophrasti. C. quinoa and C . amaranticolor plants infected through seed transmission were invaria bly symptomless as opposed to mechanically inoculated plants that exhi bited systemic symptoms of yellow flecking.