Uncoating of turnip yellow mosaic virus RNA in vivo

Following mechanical inoculation of leaves with turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV), a significant proportion of the retained inoculum is uncoated within 45 sec, and the process is more or less complete after 2 min. At least 80-90% of the uncoating takes place in the epidermis. The application of virus to the intact leaf is essential for uncoating to occur. The uncoating process is not confined to plants which are known hosts for TYMV. The process gives rise to empty shells and low molecular weight protein. The empty shells probably lose a pentamer or hexamer of protein when the RNA is released. On a per cell basis the number of virus particles uncoated can be very large-approximately 106 particles per cell. The data suggest that at high inoculum concentrations most of the released RNA is inactivated on or within the epidermis.