INVESTIGATIONS ON TRANSMISSION OF PLANT-VIRUSES IN NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS IN RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS

Virus infections in horticultural plants often result in serious yield loss. How far viruses might be spread by recirculating nutrient solutions and infect healthy plants was investigated in this experiment. Hydroculture and a recirculating system were a plied to test virus efflux from roots of TMV-infected plants into the nutrient solution. TMV could be isolated from circulating solution. Healthy indicator plants having been incubated in these systems got infected within 14-28 days. Viruses were detected by ELISA in roots and leaves. Considering viruses being spread very fast in recirculating systems, hygienic conditions should be regarded and kept well. Using desinfectants will become an important tool.