Seed Transmission of Hibiscus Latent Ringspot Virus (HLRSV)

Commercial seed lots of various cultivars of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) were shown to transmit hibiscus latent ringspot virus (HLRSV) to progeny seedlings in different percentages up to a maximum of 26%. In these greenhouse tests, no symptoms were observed in the infected seedlings. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) of dissected kenaf seeds suggested that seed infection occurs through the embryo. HLRSV was also shown to be seed transmitted in Chenopodium amaranticolor and C. quinoa, in 11% and in less than 1%, respectively, of the seed collected from mechanically inoculated plants. However, transmission of HLRSV through seed was not detected in Abutilon theophrasti. C. quinoa and C. amaranticolor plants infected through seed transmission were invariably symptomless as opposed to mechanically inoculated plants that exhibited systemic symptoms of yellow flecking.