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Abstract
The properties of polyhedral double-stranded (ds)RNA virus particles obtained from eight isolates of the wheat take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, have been investigated. Thirteen viruses and virus variants were distinguished and these were classified into three groups on the basis of serological and physical properties of the virus particles; viruses in a group were related serologically to other members of the same group, but unrelated serologically to members of other groups. Group I viruses had particles of diam. 35 nm sedimenting at 109 to 126S; the virus capsid contained one polypeptide species, mol. wt. 54 × 103 to 60 × 103 and virus dsRNA consisted of two to four components, mol. wt. 1.0 × 106 to 1.3 × 106. Group II viruses had particles of diam. 35 nm sedimenting at 133 to 140S; the virus capsid contained one polypeptide species, mol. wt. 68 × 103 to 73 × 103 and virus dsRNA consisted of two to four components with mol. wt. 1.39 × 106 to 1.60 × 106. Group III viruses had particles of diam. 40 nm sedimenting at 159 to 163S; the virus capsid contained three polypeptide species, mol. wt. 78 × 103, 83 × 103 and 87 × 103 and virus dsRNA consisted of two components, mol. wt. 3.2 × 106 to 4.3 × 106.
Five of the fungal isolates contained only single viruses. However, one isolate contained viruses from groups I and II, and two isolates each contained viruses from groups I, II and III. Investigation of virus from ten single conidial isolates derived from one of the latter isolates has shown that all three viruses were present in a single cell.
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