Chromatographic Purification of Plant Viruses on Magnesium Pyrophosphate Gel

Magnesium pyrophosphate gel (Mg-PPi), previously employed for the purification of animal viruses and bacteriophages, was used for the purification of plant viruses with filamentous and isometric particles. The viruses studied were turnip yellow mosaic, two strains of tomato bushy stunt and tobacco mosaic virus. Ultracentrifugal analysis of the purified products obtained indicated a high degree of purification. The infectivity of the preparation of the viruses was not altered by the chromatographic method. Intact were separated from empty isometric virus particles. Tobacco mosaic virus particles were separated according to their length and molecular weight.