Irradiation of Plant Viruses and of Microörganisms with Monochromatic Light

Abstract
The virus of typical tobacco mosaic in a highly purified suspension was inactivated in the presence of E. coli by measured quantities of monochromatic ultraviolet radiation. The destruction spectrum of the virus as compared with the destruction spectrum of E. coli in the same suspension is described for [lambda] 2250 A to [lambda] 3000 A. It has been found that at [lambda] 2250 A the amount of energy which is necessary to destroy 50% of the virus in 1 cc. is only 1/5 of the amount required at 2650 A. whereas the energy necessary to inactivate bacteria is greater at [lambda] 2250 A than at 2650 A.