Purification, Serology and Nucleic Acid of Pangola Stunt Virus Subviral Particles

Abstract

Pangola stunt virus (PSV) subviral particles (SVP) were purified from roots and stem bases of Digitaria decumbens (pangola grass); EM of the preparations showed B-spiked SVP typical of Fijiviruses. An antiserum of gel-diffusion titer 1/1024 was obtained. Serological tests confirmed that both the B spikes and the inner capsid of PSV SVP were related to those of maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV), though PSV SVP also carried specific determinants. Isopycnic centrifugation of PSV RNA showed that it is double-stranded, with a G + C content of 41-43%. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the RNA consisted of 10 segments similar to those of MRDV, though segment 8 was present in less than equimolar amounts.