Identification of Turnip mosaic virus isolates causing yellow stripe and spot on calla lily

Two virus cultures, RC4 and YC5, were isolated in Taiwan from calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.) cv. Black magic displaying yellow spot and stripe on leaves. Both isolates were mechanically transmitted to various hybrids of Zantedeschia and induced systemic symptoms similar to those observed on diseased Black magic. In addition to Zantedeschia spp., the two virus isolates also infected several cruciferous species and induced mosaic symptoms. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of flexuous virus particles about 750 nm in length. The two isolates were propagated in and purified from mustard plants and were used as immunogens for production of antisera in rabbits. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sodium dodecyl sulfate-immunodiffusion tests, both antisera reacted strongly with their homologous antigens and with antigens of two Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) isolates from radish (TuMV-R) and lisianthus (TuMV-L), but not with 21 other different potyviruses tested. In reciprocal tests, antisera against TuMV-R and TuMV-L also reacted strongly with RC4 and YC5 antigens, indicating that these two calla lily isolates are serologically indistinguishable from other known TuMV strains. Cloning and sequence analyses confirmed that both isolates shared 95 to 99% of deduced amino acid sequence identities in the coat protein genes with those of various known TuMV strains. This investigation represents the first record of the natural infection of TuMV in calla lily.