Characteristics of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Isolated from Wasabi (Eutrema wasabi) in Korea

Wasabies showing mosaic symptoms were collected and extracted for virus purification. Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was identified as causal agent by electron microscopy and nucleic acid and coat protein analyses. TMV strains were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TMV was identified as W and C strain in wasabi. The results of host reaction indicated that this virus induced local lesions on Nicotiana tabacum cv. Bright Yellow and N. glutinosa, leaf spots on Chenopodium amaranticolor and mosaic symptoms on wasabi. Rot shape virus particles were observed and was about 300 nm in length. About 6.5 kb single RNA molecule was observed from extracted viral RNA sample and 26 KDa coat protein was detected in denatured acrylamide gel. Infection ratio of TMV was 8% for the first cultivation year, but was 22% for the second year when TMV-W antiserum was used. The results of this experiment showed that infection ratios of both TMV-W and TMV-C strains were higher compared to that of TMV-P strain.