First Report of Impatiens Necrotic Spot Tospovirus (INSV) in Israel

In January 1999, Anemone coronaria L. imported from Europe and grown in open fields near Jerusalem in Israel developed foliar ringspots and foliar necrosis. Within a few weeks of the first appearance of these symptoms, further anemone plants in the surrounding area were affected and seriously damaged. Impatiens necrotic spot tospovirus (INSV) was detected in affected plants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; anti-INSV monoclonal antibodies were provided by H. T. Hsu, USDA, Beltsville, MD, and a polyclonal antibody to INSV was purchased from Loewe, Otterfing, Germany). Crude sap extracted from symptomatic tissue was mechanically transmitted to Emilia spp., Petunia hybrida, Nicotian glutinosa, N. benthamiana, and N. rustica plants that developed symptoms characteristic of INSV infection (1). ELISAs of leaf sap extracted from anemone plants and mechanically inoculated indicator plants gave a strong positive reaction to INSV. Leaf-dip preparations prepared from leaf samples of anemone plants were an...