Infectivity Studies on Cucumber Mosaic Virus Treated with a Clay Material

Montmorillonite, an expansible layer silicate, proved to be the main component of the sediments present in river waters in which cucutnber mosaic virus (CMV), a widespread plant virus, was found. Infectivity assays carried out after treatment of a virus suspension with this clay material, revealed that montmorillonite adsorbed most of the virus-associated infectivity and saved the infectivity of a CMV suspension even after exposure at high ionic strength (lM LiCl).