The transmission by mites, host-range and properties of ryegrass mosaic virus

A virus that causes chlorotic streaks on ryegrass leaves was transmitted by the eriophyid mite Abacarus hystrix (Nalepa). Virus-free mites acquired the virus in 2 hr. feeding on infected ryegrass and the proportion that became infective increased with increased feeding time up to 12 hr.; vectors lost infectivity within 24 hr. of leaving the infected leaves. All instars of A. hystrix transmitted the virus. The virus was transmitted by manual inoculation of sap to other species of Gramineae, including oats, rice, cocksfoot and meadow fescue, but none of these hosts seemed to contain as much virus as ryegrass; their saps did not precipitate specifically with antiserum prepared against the virus in ryegrass, whereas sap from infected ryegrass precipitated up to a dilution of 1/32. Infective sap of S22 Italian ryegrass contained flexuous rod-shaped particles; the dilution end-point of the virus was about I in moo; the virus was inactivated when held for Io min. at 600 degrees C. and most of its infectivity was lost after 24 hr. at room temperature.