Detection and Characterization of an Isolate of Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) Infecting Borage (Borago officinalis) in Spain

Abstract

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was shown to be the causal agent of a borage (Borago officinalis) disease in northeastern Spain characterized by stunting of the plant, leaf deformation, and mosaic. The borage isolate, Bo-CMV, was characterized biologically by the symptoms induced in 17 indicator plants and serologically by its reaction with antiserum of LQ-CMV. Bo-CMV encapsidates RNAs 1, 2, 3, and 4, no satellite-RNA being found. In Northern blot analysis, it hybridized with cDNA made against Fny-CMV (in the WT hybridization group of CMV isolates) but not to cDNA made against WL-CMV (in the S group). This is in agreement with the biological and serological data, suggesting that Bo-CMV belongs to the DTL-WT group of CMV. In the greenhouse, Bo-CMV was nonpersistently transmitted by Myzus persicae.