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An Unusual Inclusion in Plants Infected with a Tobacco Mosaic Virus Mutant
Abstract
The mutant Ni 118 obtained from tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) treated with nitrous acid produces defective coat protein, especially when multiplying in plants kept at 35°. At this temperature, few complete virus particles are formed, and extracts of infected plants contain mostly free infective RNA and insoluble coat protein. At 20°, however, Ni 118 multiplies as well as the type strain of TMV ( Jockusch, 1966 ; Kassanis & Bastow, 1971a ). To gain more information about the conditions in infected cells we examined them by light and electron microscopy. Light microscopy was done by phase-contrast on living cells from epidermal strips of the undersides of Samsun tobacco leaves 1 week after inoculation. For electron microscopy the methods of Milne (1970) were used; pieces of leaf were fixed in glutaraldehyde and then osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in acetone, soaked in uranyl acetate in acetone and embedded in Epon. After sectioning, the material was stained in lead citrate.
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© Journal of General Virology 1971