Crystalline Structures Associated with the Infection of the Potexvirus Argentine Plantago Virus (APla V)

Abstract An electron microscopy study of Argentine plantago virus (APlaV)-infected plants has revealed that the virus induces crystal-like inclusions in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of infected cells, in addition to the charcteristic aggregates of virus particles formed by most potexviruses. These crystals are produced in different plants and in tissue at different stage of development and they can be readily detected by leaf dip preparations. We conclude that the crystalline inclusions are virus-specific, and therefore can be regarded as a characteristic feature of APlaV infections.