A STRAIN OF CUCUMBER GREEN MOTTLE MOSAIC-VIRUS (CGMMV) FROM BOTTLEGOURD IN SAUDI-ARABIA

Mosaic symptoms were observed on bottlegourd in the College of Agriculture Research and Experimental Farm at Dirab. The following plant species: Lagenaria siceraria L., Cucumis sativus L., C. melo L., and Citrullus vulgaris L. showed mosaic symptoms when mechanically inoculated with extract from symptomatic bottlegourd. The rest of the inoculated plants did not show any symptoms. Properties of the infective plant extract were as follows: Dilution end point (DLP) was between 10(-6)-10(-7), thermal inactivation point (TIP) was between 90-100-degrees-C, and longevity in vitro was more than 32 days. Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained, partially purified preparations revealed rigid-rod shaped virus particles measuring 300-325 nm. Positive serological reaction was observed between leaf extract from infected bottlegourd and CGMMV antiserum in immunodiffusion test in agar plates. This report is the first of the presence of CGMMV in this country.