Effects of temperature on infection of French bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by lucerne mosaic virus

The effect of temperature on the number of lesions and the time of their appearance was studied by inoculating French bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Perli?ka) with lucerne mosaic virus either 24 or 48 h before or, 24 or 48 h after they were exposed to various temperatures. The temperatures tested were 23, 25, 27, 30, 33 and 36° C. Before and after such exposures the plants were kept in a constant temperature of 25° C. By increasing the temperature before inoculation the number of lesions increased in comparison with the control. The optimal temperature for the maximum number of lesions is between 27° and 30° C. There is no significant difference between those experiments when the exposure time was 24 h or 48 h before inoculation. The same temperatures applied for 24 or 48 h after inoculation have a decreasing effect upon the number of lesions formed by LMV on French bean leaves. The decrease is 30 to 75%. In this case the first necrotic local lesions appeared 42 h after inoculation when exposed to higher temperatures above 27° C for 24 h, and 60 h after inoculation when exposed to these temperatures for 48 h. The shape of lesions varied a little in both cases as the pictures show.