Plant Viruses
Online
Descriptions and Lists from
the VIDE Database
Alfalfa mosaic
alfamovirus
Index
Data collated by L. van Vloten-Doting, 1981. Revised
1987 by A.J. Gibbs.
Nomenclature
Synonyms
lucerne mosaic virus, potato calico virus.
Acronym
ICTV decimal code
Host range and symptoms
First reported
in Medicago sativa; from the U.S.A.; by Weimer (1931).
Natural host range and symptoms
Symptoms persist, or
disappear soon after infection.
- The virus naturally infects many species including:
- Caryopteris
incana - white fleck.
- Cicer arietinum - wilting.
- Lycopersicon esculentum - severe necrosis.
- Apium
graveolens, A. graveolens var. rapaceum, Lactuca sativa, Malva
parviflora, Trifolium incarnatum, T. repens, Viburnum opulus - mosaic.
- Medicago sativa - mosaic, mottle, malformation, but often
symptomless during summer.
- Nicotiana tabacum, Lupinus spp. -
mosaic and mottle.
- Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, V. radiata,
Astragalus glycyphyllos, Glycine max, Lablab purpureus, Lens culinaris, Capsicum
annuum - necrotic or chlorotic local lesions, sometimes mosaic.
- Philadelphus sp. - white mottle.
- Pisum sativum -
necrosis.
- Solanum tuberosum - calico and tuber necrosis.
Transmission
Transmitted by a vector; an insect; Myzus
persicae and at least 13 other species; Aphididae. Transmitted in a
non-persistent manner. Virus transmitted by mechanical inoculation;
transmitted by grafting; not transmitted by contact between plants; transmitted
by seed (50% in alfalfa seeds from individual infected plants and up to 10% in
commercial seed); transmitted by pollen to the seed.
Ecology and
control
Studies reported by Gibbs (1962); Garran and Gibbs (1982);
Edwardson and Christie (1986).
Geographical distribution
Probably distributed worldwide.
Experimental host range
Many (>9) families
susceptible. Experimentally infected plants mostly show necrotic local lesions,
mottles or ringspots.
Diagnostically susceptible host species
and symptoms
- Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa -
chlorotic local lesions; systemic chlorotic and necrotic flecks which
distinguish this virus from cucumber mosaic virus.
- Ocimum basilicum
- systemic yellow mosaic.
- Phaseolus vulgaris - most strains
induce necrotic local lesions, some induce chlorotic local lesions or a systemic
mottle, vein necrosis and leaf malformation.
- Pisum sativum - local
lesions and/or wilting of inoculated leaves; systemic stem necrosis and plant
death.
- Vicia faba - black necrotic local lesions, stem necrosis
and plant death, a few isolates induce systemic mottle.
- Vigna
unguiculata - necrotic local lesions, not systemic, some isolates induce
various systemic symptoms.
- Nicotiana tabacum - necrotic and
chlorotic local lesions (some strains induce no local symptoms); systemic
mottle, vein banding, ringspots, rarely malformation.
Maintenance and
propagation hosts
Nicotiana glutinosa, N. tabacum.
Assay hosts (Local lesions or Whole plants)
Chenopodium amaranticolor (L,W),
C. quinoa (L,W), Phaseolus vulgaris (L,W), Vigna
unguiculata (L).
Susceptible host species
Insusceptible host species
Families containing susceptible hosts
Families containing
insusceptible hosts
Sources of host-range data
Thornberry (1966); Hull (1969); Schmelzer et al. (1973).
Physical and
biochemical properties
Properties of particles in sap
TIP:
60-65 °C. LIV: 1-4 days. DEP: log10 minus 3-4. Infectivity of sap not changed
by treatment with di-ethyl ether. Leaf sap contains many virions. Electron
microscopy: most negative stains disrupt virions unless they are first fixed
with formaldehyde. The virions of some strains are stable in AM (Price and
McLean, 1982).
Purification method
Van
Vloten-Doting and Jaspars (1972).
Particle morphology
Virions bacilliform; not enveloped;
mostly 30, 35, 43, and 56 nm in length; 18 nm wide.
Physical properties
Four sedimenting components in
purified preparations (at least); sedimentation coefficient of the fastest 94
S (B); of the other(s) 82 S (M), or 78 S (Ta), or 66
S (Tb; minor components of 53 S and 60 S found in some
isolates). Density 1.381 g cm-3 in CsCl (Ta), or 1.385 g cm-3 in
CsCl (B). Density in Cs2SO4 1.278 g cm-3. Isoelectric point pH 4.6.
A260/A280 ratio 1.7-1.8.
Biochemical properties
Virions contain 16 % nucleic acid;
84 % protein; 0 % lipid.
Genome consists of RNA; single-stranded; linear. Total genome size 8.27
kb. Genome of three parts; largest (or only) genome part the largest, RNA-1 3.64
kb; the 2nd largest 2.59 kb (RNA-2); the 3rd largest 2.04 kb (RNA-3). Base
composition 23 % G; 25 % A; 23 % C; 29 % U. 5´ terminus of RNA has a
methylated nucleotide cap. Infectivity retained when deproteinised with
proteases, or decreased when deproteinised with proteases; retained when
deproteinised with phenol or detergent (provided RNA-4 is present). Poly A
region absent. Additional factor required for infectivity; coat protein
mRNA or RNA-4 of 0.88 kb. RNA-1 and RNA-2 alone can infect protoplasts.
Genome has no tRNA-like activity. Nucleotide sequence references:
Cornelissen et al. (1983); Collot et al. (1977); Barker et
al. (1983); Ravelonandro et al. (1984); Gunn and Symons (1980);
Koper-Zwarthoff et al. (1980); Houwing and Jaspars (1982).
Sequence database accession code(s)
- J02001
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA23 alfalfa mosaic virus (Q strain) rna2 3´ end. 2/85 228bp.
- J02003 Em(40)_vi:ALRNA3 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA3 alfalfa mosaic virus rna 3 35kd
protein leader sequence. 4/90 318bp.
- J02005 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA35 alfalfa
mosaic virus (strain 425) rna3 5´ end. 2/85 101bp.
- K02702
Gb(84)_vi:MAACG2Z Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain 425 Leiden) RNA 2 of complete
genome. 9/88 2,593bp.
- K02703 Em(40)_vi:ALMRNA3 Gb(84)_vi:MAACG3Z Alfalfa
mosaic virus (strain 425 Madison) RNA 3 of complete genome. 4/90 2,037bp
- K03542 Em(40)_vi:MAARNA3L Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA3L Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 3
encoding viral coat protein, complete.B. 4/90 2,142bp.
- L00161
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA33 Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain Q) RNA 3, 3´ end. 8/86 230bp
- L00162 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNA4 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA4 Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain
425 Leiden) RNA 4 encoding viral coat protein. 5/94 964bp.
- L00163
Em(40)_vi:ALMAACG1Z Gb(84)_vi:MAACG1Z Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain 425 Leiden)
RNA 1 of complete genome. 5/94 3,644bp.
- L00164 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA13 Alfalfa
mosaic virus (strain Q) RNA 1. 8/86 226bp.
- M10826 Em(40)_vi:MAARNA01
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA4AX Alfalfa mosaic virus (A1MV) RNA 4, 3´ terminal fragment
29C. 7/91 91bp.
- M10851 Em(40)_vi:MAARNA4A Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA4A Alfalfa mosaic
virus RNA 4, 5´ terminal region. 7/89 74bp.
- M25004 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNAA
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNAA Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 3 or 4, 3´ end. 4/92 113bp.
- M25005 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNAB Gb(84)_vi:MAARNAB Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 2,
3´ end. 4/92 103bp.
- M25006 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNAC Gb(84)_vi:MAARNAC Alfalfa
mosaic virus RNA 1, 3´ end. 4/92 110bp.
- M25452 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNA1
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA4D Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4 RNA fragment. 4/92 62bp.
- M35975 Em(40)_vi:ALMAARNA Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA1A Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain
AlMV-S) 5´ end of RNA-1. 12/90 163bp.
- M35976 Em(40)_vi:ALMAAR01
Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA1B Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain AlMV-B) 5´ end of RNA-1.
12/90 115bp.
- M36389 Em(40)_vi:ALMAAR02 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA2A Alfalfa mosaic
virus (strain AlMV-S) 5´ end of RNA-2. 12/90 108bp.
- M36390
Em(40)_vi:ALMAAR03 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA2B Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain AlMV-B) 5´
end of RNA-2. 12/90 109bp.
- M36391 Em(40)_vi:ALMAAR04 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA3B
Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain AlMV-S) 5´ end of RNA-3. 12/90 305bp.
- M36392
Em(40)_vi:ALMAAR05 Gb(84)_vi:MAARNA3C Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain AlMV-B) 5´
end of RNA-3. 12/90 290bp.
- M59241 Em(40)_vi:ALMAA32K Gb(84)_vi:MAA32KDMP
Alfalfa mosaic virus 32 kDa movement protein and coat protein RNA, complete cds.
8/92 2,188bp.
- S55890 Em(40)_vi:S55890 Gb(84)_vi:S55890 RNA-3 coat protein
homolog, alfalfa mosaic virus RNA-3 32K protein homolog (RNA-2) (raspberry bushy
dwarf virus, Genomic RNA, 2231 nt).
- U12509 Em(43)_vi:Am12509
Gb(89)_vi:Amu12509 Alfalfa mosaic virus NZ1 RNA4 coat protein mRNA, complete
cds. 8/94 876bp.
- U12510 Em(43)_vi:Am12510 Gb(89)_vi:Amu12510 Alfalfa mosaic
virus NZ2 RNA4 coat protein mRNA, complete cds. 8/94 876bp.
- V00044
Em(40)_vi:ALALM1 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM1 5´ end of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1. 5/94
61bp.
- V00045 Em(40)_vi:ALALM2 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM2 5´ end of alfalfa mosaic
virus RNA 2. 5/94 13bp.
- V00046 Em(40)_vi:ALALM3 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM3 5´ end
of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 3. 5/94 101bp.
- V00047 Em(40)_vi:ALALM4
Gb(84)_vi:ALALM4 Intercistronic junction in alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 3. 5/94
122bp.
- V00048 Em(40)_vi:ALALM5 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM5 alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 4
coding for the coat protein. 5/94 881bp.
- V00049 Em(40)_vi:ALALM6
Gb(84)_vi:ALALM6 3´ end of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1. 7/91 226bp.
- V00050
Em(40)_vi:ALALM7 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM7 3´ end of alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 2. 7/91
228bp.
- V00051 Em(40)_vi:ALALM8 Gb(84)_vi:ALALM8 3´ end of alfalfa mosaic
virus RNA 3. 7/91 230bp.
- V00052 Em(40)_vi:ALAM01 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM01 Alfalfa
mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease T1.).
5/94 8
- V00053 Em(40)_vi:ALAM02 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM02 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1
fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 6
- V00054
Em(40)_vi:ALAM03 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM03 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained
after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 4
- V00055 Em(40)_vi:ALAM04
Gb(84)_vi:ALAM04 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion
with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 4
- V00056 Em(40)_vi:ALAM05 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM05
Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease
T1.). 5/94 4
- V00057 Em(40)_vi:ALAM06 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM06 Alfalfa mosaic virus
RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 3
- V00058 Em(40)_vi:ALAM07 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM07 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1
fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 3
- V00059
Em(40)_vi:ALAM08 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM08 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained
after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 3
- V00060 Em(40)_vi:ALAM09
Gb(84)_vi:ALAM09 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion
with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 2
- V00061 Em(40)_vi:ALAM10 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM10
Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease
T1.). 5/94 2
- V00062 Em(40)_vi:ALAM11 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM11 Alfalfa mosaic virus
RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease A.). 5/94 25
- V00063 Em(40)_vi:ALAM12 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM12 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1
fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease A.). 5/94 19
- V00064
Em(40)_vi:ALAM13 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM13 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained
after digestion with ribonuclease A.). 5/94 19
- V00065 Em(40)_vi:ALAM14
Gb(84)_vi:ALAM14 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion
with ribonuclease A.). 5/94 18
- V00066 Em(40)_vi:ALAM15 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM15
Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease
A.). 5/94 18
- V00067 Em(40)_vi:ALAM16 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM16 Alfalfa mosaic virus
RNA 1 fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease A.). 5/94 15
- V00068 Em(40)_vi:ALAM17 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM17 Alfalfa mosaic virus RNA 1
fragment. (Obtained after digestion with ribonuclease T1.). 5/94 9
- X00819
Em(40)_vi:ALAM19 Gb(84)_vi:ALAM19 Alfalfa mosaic virus (strain S) complete RNA 3
sequence. 9/93 2,055bp.
- X01572 Em(40)_vi:A1MVRNA2 Gb(84)_vi:A1MVRNA2 Alfalfa
mosaic virus (A1M4) RNA 2. 7/91 2,593bp.
- M28374 Em(43)_vi:Maatbts7a
Gb(89)_vi:Maatbts7a Alfalfa mosaic virus (clone 143) temperature-sensitive
mutant Tbts7 RNA3 (coat protein-encodi
- M28375 Em(43)_vi:Maatbts7b
Gb(89)_vi:Maatbts7b Alfalfa mosaic virus (clone 112) temperature-sensitive
mutant Tbts7 RNA3 (coat protein-encoding), 5´ end fragment.
Features of the genome
Non-genomic nucleic acid
found in the virions; is subgenomic mRNA (of coat protein gene).
Sub-genomic mRNA found in infected cells; coat protein mRNA
also present in virion preparations.
Features of proteins
Virion protein(s) one;
Mr 24250. Method of preparation: Kruseman et al. (1971). Amino
acid sequence: Van Beynum (1977) for AMV-425 and Castel (1979) for AMV-VRU.
Replication
Coat protein mRNA translated in the
cytoplasm. Replication does not depend on a helper virus.
Cytopathology
Virions found in all parts of the host
plant; in cytoplasm and in chloroplasts; cytoplasmic invaginations in the
chloroplasts. Inclusions cytoplasmic present in infected cells; are unusual in
shape; vacuolated bodies derived from spheroidal and granular bodies, vacuolated
or non-vacuolated bodies containing nucleoprotein and hexagonal crystals; they
contain virions (aggregated). Also tubular bodies are found in the nucleus (Hull
et al., 1969).
Taxonomy and
relationships
Additional comments on relationships
No other viruses are definitive alfamoviruses. However, sunflower
ringspot virus (J. Dale, pers. comm.) and a virus isolated from Mercurialis
perennis in the U.K. (A.A. Brunt, pers. comm.) have virions of similar
shape, but are not serologically related. Cassava Ivorian bacilliform virus
(Fargette et al., 1991), and allied viruses, is unrelated. Some alfalfa
mosaic virus genes are homologous to those of the ilar-, bromo- and
cucumoviruses.
Comments and
References
References
- Barker, R.F., Jarvis,
N.P., Thompson, D.U., Loesch-Fries, L.S. and Hall, T.C. (1983). Nucl. Acids
Res. 11: 2881.
- Bos, L. and Jaspars, E.M.J. (1971). CMI/AAB
Descr. Pl. Viruses No. 46, 4 pp.
- Castel, A., Kraal, B., de Graaf, J.M.
and Bosch, L. (1979). Eur. J. Biochem. 102: 125.
- Collot, D.,
Dupin, A. and Duranton, H. (1977). Biochim. biophys. Acta 492:
260.
- Cornelissen, B.J.C., Brederode, F.Th., Veenemann, G.H., van Boom, J.H.
and Bol, J.F. (1983). Nucl. Acids Res. 11: 3019.
- Edwardson,
J.R. and Christie, R.G. (1986). Fla Agric. Exp. Stn Monogr. No. 14, p.
30.
- Garran, J. and Gibbs, A.J. (1982). Aust. J. agric. Res.
33: 657.
- Gibbs, A.J. (1962). Pl. Path. 11: 167.
- Gunn, M.R. and Symons, R.H. (1980). FEBS Lett. 109: 145.
- Houwing, C.J. and Jaspars, E.M.J. (1982). Biochemistry 21:
3408.
- Hull, R. (1969). Adv. Virus Res. 15, p. 365.
- Hull, R.,
Hills, G.J. and Plaskitt, (1969). J. Ultrastruct. Res. 24: 465.
- Jaspars E.M.J. and Bos, L. (1980). CMI/AAB Descr. Pl. Viruses No.
229, 7 pp.
- Koper-Zwarthoff, E.C., Brederode, F.Th., Veenemann, G. and van
Boom, J.H. (1980). Nucl. Acids Res. 8: 5635.
- Kruseman, J.,
Jaspars, E.M.J., Bol, J.F., Brederode, F.Th. and Veldstra, H. (1971).
Biochemistry 10: 447.
- Price, L.K. and McLean, G.D. (1982).
Australas. Pl. Path. 11: 48.
- Ravelonandro, M., Pinck, M. and
Pinck, L. (1984). Biochimie 66: 395.
- Schmelzer, K., Schmidt,
H.B. and Beczner, L. (1973). Biol. Zbl. 92: 211.
- Thornberry,
H.H. (1966). In: Index of Plant Virus Diseases. U.S. Dept Agric. Hdbk No.
307, p.264.
- Van Beynum, G.M.A., de Graaf, J.M., Castel, A., Kraal, B. and
Bosch, L. (1977). Eur. J. Biochem. 72: 63.
- Van Vloten-Doting,
L. and Jaspars, E.M.J. (1972). Virology 48: 699.
- Weimer, J.L.
(1931). Phytopathology 21: 122.
Illustrations
Electron micrograph.
Cite this publication as:
Brunt, A.A., Crabtree, K., Dallwitz, M.J., Gibbs, A.J., Watson, L. and Zurcher, E.J. (eds.)
(1996 onwards).
`Plant Viruses Online: Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database.
Version: 20th August 1996.' URL
http://biology.anu.edu.au/Groups/MES/vide/
Dallwitz (1980)
and
Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993)
should also be cited.







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