PASSAGE OF A MARINE BROWN ALGAL DNA VIRUS FROM ECTOCARPUS FASCICULATUS (ECTOCARPALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE) TO MYRIOTRICHIA CLAVAEFORMIS (DICTYOSIPHONALES,PHAEOPHYCEAE): INFECTION SYMPTOMS AND RECOVERY1

A dsDNA virus (EfasV-1) isolated from Ectocarpus fasciculatus Harvey infected Myriotrichia clavaeformis Harvey, a species belonging to a different brown algal order. The virus did not complete its infection cycle in the foreign host but caused infertility due to malformed reproductive structures. After some time in culture, the host's reproductive capacity was sometimes restored with concomitant loss of at least part of the viral genome. This incidence of interordinal virus transfer is discussed in relation to possibilities for virus-mediated horizontal gene transfer in brown algae.