THE EXTRACTION OF WHEAT STRIATE MOSAIC VIRUS FROM DISEASED WHEAT PLANTS

Abstract

Extracts from wheat plants infected with wheat striate mosiac virus were shown to be infective by injection into virus-free leafhoppers (Endria inimica Say). To prepare the infective extracts, diseased plants were homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline with or without magnesium chloride and glycine, heated at 45 °C for 10 minutes, and concentrated by differential centrifugation. The virus was protected by the addition of magnesium chloride and glycine. Most of the virus was sedimented at 78,400 g for 60 minutes but a decrease in viral activity occurred during centrifugation.