ISHS Acta Horticulturae 94: XI International Symposium on Fruit Tree Virus Diseases
THE USE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT (R.A.C.E.)* FOR OBTAINING MOSAIC-FREE ALMONDS |
| Authors: | A. QUACQUARELLI, D. GALLITELLI, V. SAVINO, P. PIAZZOLLA |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1981.94.35 |
| Abstract:
Application of electric current to purified preparations of almond mosaic virus produced degradation of particles and loss of infectivity. These results prompted us to determine if electric current also would exert a similar effect in vivo, thus freeing diseased almonds from the virus. Some experiments carried out in 1977 and 1978 by applying electric current to almond cuttings were successful only when the final surface temperature of 36–38 °C was reached. Buds of treated cuttings grafted on healthy almond seedlings failed to transmit the virus. Likewise no virus was recovered from the shoots by inoculation of sap on herbaceous hosts. Electrical current produced an increase of temperature in the cuttings. Empirical mathematical relations between temperature and time of treatment were established for a practical application of the method. Increase of temperature may not be the only factor accounting for virus inactivation since almond cuttings heated for 30 min in a water bath at 37–38 °C remained diseased. | |
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