Incidence and variability of Hosta virus X and seed-transmission in Hosta plants

This study was performed to investigate the incidence of Hosta uirus X (HVX), a Potexvirus, from cultivated hosta ornamental plants in Korea and to ascertain seed transmission of the virus from infected parent plant to progeny ones for breeding program of hosta plants. Infection rate of HVX in cultivated hostas was 25.6 ％ (11 out of 43 collected samples contained HVX) based on Western blot and RT-PCR detection methods. Most of HVX-infected hostas showed visible systemic leaf symptoms (mosaic, mottle, curling, stunting or combinations). Variability of HVX was confirmed by sequences of coat protein gene of individual isolates from different hostas. HVX was seed-transmitted on Hosta 'Blue Cadet'. The virus was detected from seeds, and sprouts and seedlings from the virus-contaminated seed sources. Over 7.5 ％ of seeds were HVX-contaminated surveyed in this study, Our data suggest that HVX can be transmitted by seed source, and indexing of the virus should be done for breeding program of Hosta.