First report of Tobacco rattle virus occurring in Gladiolus in India

During a survey for viruses infecting gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) in 2002, around Palampur in the Kangra Valley, some of plants were identified that showed notched leaf blade margin symptoms (Fig. 1), which is characteristic of Tobacco rattle virus (Genus Tobravirus; TRV) (Yamaji et al., 1998).

These symptoms were observed on the cultivars Top Brass, Aldebaran and Oscar. Using double antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA, plants showing symptoms gave a positive reaction with polyclonal antibodies specific to TRV (obtained from Agdia, Elkhart, USA). After sap inoculation onto Nicotiana tabacum, characteristic TRV symptoms of necrotic local lesions, followed by systemic mottling were observed (Brunt et al., 1996). The presence of TRV in these plants was confirmed using DAS-ELISA. The results of these tests confirm the presence of TRV in gladiolus in India. TRV has previously been reported in gladiolus from other parts of world, including Holland, Israel, Egypt and Poland (Stein et al., 1995). However, this is the first report of the occurrence of TRV in gladiolus from India, and as far as the authors can determine the first formally published report of TRV in any crop in India.