THE INHIBITING EFFECT OF SOME HETEROCYCLIC AND OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ON TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS

Abstract

A number of heterocyclic and miscellaneous organic compounds have been tested for their effectiveness as virus inhibitors by a half-leaf technique using Nicotiana glutinosa and tobacco mosaic virus. Several of these compounds were found to be effective in varying degrees, the main effects being a reduction in the total number of lesions produced, a delay in symptom expression, and a decrease in virus multiplication as indicated by small lesions, on the treated half-leaves. Although nothing is known about the mechanism of inhibition, it can be concluded that to effect inhibition compounds act through the physiology of the host, rather than directly on the virus. The virus content of treated half-leaves has been estimated by measuring their rate of oxygen consumption. These data indicate that the inhibiting compounds affect the metabolism of the host, as reflected in a change in respiration when compared to control half-leaves, and that the symptomless areas on the treated half-leaves do not contain significant concentrations of virus.