Studies on virus diseases of papaya (carica papaya) in Puerto Rico III. Property studies of papaya mosaic viruss

Abstract

The physical properties of papaya mosaic virus are reported. The virus is inactivated by a 10-minute exposure at 60°C. No infection was obtained when juice was diluted up to 1:1000. The virus was completely inactivated in 48 hours at room temperature. Filterability was accomplished but with difficulty through a Seitz germicide filter. The virus was found to lose its infectivity in the leaves when air dried for 48 hours. Aphis spiraeeola Patch retained the virus the first 3 hours but failed to infect a second lot of plants after that time.