FURTHER STUDIES ON THE MOSAIC OF THE SUGARCANE VARIETY MAYAGUEZ 336

Abstract

Transmission of the mosaic virus present on the sugarcane variety M. 336 is reported. The virus was transmitted mechanically from mosaic-infected M. 336 to the varieties, B.H. 10-12, Sta. Cruz. 12/4, and C.P. 29-291. No transmissions were obtained to the varieties P.O.J. 2878 and P.R. 902, which are resistant to the sugarcane-mosaic virus. The mosaic symptoms produced by the YM-336 virus on B.H. 10-12, Sta. Cruz 12/4, Co. 281, and C.P. 29-291 were indistinguishable from the symptoms produced on these same varieties by the sugarcane-mosaic virus. Comparative studies were made of the physical properties of the M. 336 mosaic virus and the sugarcane-mosaic virus obtained from B.H. 10-12. No differences were observed in the properties of the two viruses. Both were inactivated at a temperature of around 45°C, had a dilution end point of 1:10, and did not survive for more than 24 hours at room temperature. The YM-336 virus was transmitted successfully by means of the corn aphid, A. maidis Fitch, from infected sorghum, B.H. 10-12, and Sta. Cruz 12/4 to the variety M. 336.