Poinsettia leaf curl: a new disease in Taiwan caused by a geminivirus
In Taiwan, a serious disease was recently observed on poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima cv. Angelica). Symptoms were characterized by downward leaf curling and vein enation. Diseased plants were usually heavily infested with Bemisia tabaci (EPPO A2 quarantine pest). Twinned particles (16-18 x 30-32 nm) could be detected in a purified preparation obtained from diseased tissues, indicating that the disease may be caused by a geminivirus. When this agent was transmitted to healthy poinsettia by whiteflies or bud grafting, the plants also developed leaf curl symptoms. The authors noted that this virus present some similar features with tobacco leaf curl bigeminivirus.
Sources
Tsai, M.C.; Liu, C.S.; Su, H.J. (1997) Poinsettia leaf curl, a new disease caused by a geminivirus.
Journal of Phytopathology, 145(8-9), 347-350.