A necrotic disease of glasshouse beans caused by bean stipple streak virus

Abstract

Bean stipple streak virus (BSSV), a strain of tobacco necrosis virus (TNV), was found occurring naturally on glasshouse beans planted during the winter months and was transferred experimentally to produce symptoms on French beans, cucumber, tobacco, and cowpea.

The virus was transmitted to bean and cucumber seedlings by Olpidium brassicae (Wor.) Dang, isolated from lettuce. Light microscope studies revealed high concentrations of sporangia and resting spores within roots of naturally infected French bean plants.

Serological tests indicated that BSSV and cucumber systemic necrosis virus (CSNV) in a commercial glasshouse were caused by the same strain of TNV.

The host range, physical properties, serological relationships, and electron microscopy of the virus showed that the disease is bean stipple streak, a strain of tobacco necrosis virus. This is the first record of bean stipple streak virus in New Zealand.