Toxigenic Fusarium Species of Liseola Section in Pre-harvest Maize Ear Rot, and Associated Mycotoxins in Slovakia

The occurrence of Fusarium species of Liseola section and related toxins was investigated for two years (1996 and 1998) on maize ear rot samples collected in the most important areas for maize growing in Slovakia. The species most frequently isolated was F. verticillioides, followed by F. proliferatum in 1996 and F. subglutinans in 1998. Most of the strains belonged to mating populations A, D, and E of the teleomorph Gibberella fujikuroi. Fusarium graminearum was also frequently recovered in both the years of investigations. Toxin analysis of maize ears showed that most of the samples (21 out of 22) were contaminated with at least one toxin. In particular, the concentration of fumonisin B₁, and fumonisin ₂ was up to 26.9 and 5.1gg^-1, respectively in 1996, and up to 12.1 and 6.3gg^-1, respectively in 1998. Beauvericin was detected only in one sample in 1996. Seven samples in 1996 were contaminated by fusaproliferin up to 8.2gg^-1, but just traces of the toxin were found in one sample in 1998. All 29 strains of F. verticillioides, two of three strains of F. proliferatum and none of eight F. subglutinans strains isolated from samples produced fumonisin B₁ in culture on whole maize kernels (0.1–5646 and 940–1200ugg^-1, respectively). Two strains of F. subglutinans and two of F. proliferatum produced beauvericin (up to 65 and 70gg^-1, respectively). Ten strains of F. verticillioides produced beauvericin: 9 strains produced a low amount (up to 3gg^-1), while only one of them produced a high level of toxin (375gg^-1). Fusaproliferin was produced by two F. proliferatum strains (220 and 370gg^-1), by seven F. subglutinans (20–1335gg^-1) and by three F. verticillioides (10–35gg^-1). This is the first report on fusaproliferin production by F. verticillioides, although at low level.     

Comparison of immunofluorescence microscopy and dilution-plating for the detection of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in crucifer seeds

The correlation between immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) and dilution-plating on nutrient starch cycloheximide agar (NSCA) or NSCA with the addition of nitrofurantoin and vancomycin (NSCAA) was studied for the detection ofXanthomonas campestris pv.campestris (Xcc) in crucifer seeds. When checking 50 l of the seed extract in IF, IF and dilution-plating gave corresponding results (both positive or negative) for 45.4–56.4% of the samples tested. No differences were observed in this respect between tests using a polyclonal antiserum (PCA 94) and replicate tests using monoclonal antibodies (MCA 20H6). When 20 l of the seed extract was checked in IF, 67.3–71.3% of the samples tested were both positive or negative with dilutionplating and IF. IF negative and dilution-plating positive samples were found for 0.0–7.3% of all samples tested. The percentage of IF positive and dilution-plating negative samples ranged from 26.7–29.2 (20 l seed extract checked) to 41.8–47.3% (50 l seed extract checked). Generally, the probability of isolating Xcc increased with increasing numbers of fluorescent cells found in IF. Above 10 000 cells per ml the probability of isolating Xcc ranged from 57.1–81.8%. Increasing the extraction time from 5 min to 2.5 h shaking showed no significant increase of the number of samples found positive in IF and dilution-plating. However, when using both 5 min and 2.5 h shaking as compared to 5 min shaking only, more samples can be found positive in IF (1.0–14.5%) and dilution-plating (3.0–18.5%). Examining 1 l instead of 50 l of the sample smear, would increase the correspondence between IF and dilution-plating results up to minimally 69.1% (MCA 20H6). However, the risk of false-negative results in IF as compared to dilution-plating would also increase.     

Interactions between the striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Walk.) (Lep., Pyralidae) larvae and rice plants in response to nitrogen fertilization

A screenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the damage and compensation in rice plants when injured by the striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (Walker), larvae at tillering stage, as well as larval survival and development of the insect at different nitrogen (N) fertilization levels. Potted plants were fertilized at late seedling stage at the rates 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800mgN/pot, respectively. More deadheads were caused as fertilization increased. Plants compensated well for injury at the fertilization concentrations of 200 and 400mgN/pot by producing new tillers, but such compensation did not take place at 600 and 800mgN/pot. Two weeks after infestation, the highest number of remaining healthy tillers was found in plants fertilized at 400mgN/pot. Larval survival varied little among the treatments 200 to 800mgN/pot. Larval weight attainment and/or developmental rate increased with increasing fertilization level from 200 to 600mgN/pot, but both declined rapidly as fertilization reached 800mgN/pot, indicating the great dependence of plant suitability on N fertilization levels. Conclusively, both the compensation response of rice plants and their suitability for C. suppressalis larvae could be significantly affected by N fertilization levels.     

Electron microscopic observations on haustoria isolated from cucumber leaves infected with powdery mildew

The fine structure of haustoria isolated from cucumber leaves infected with powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) was studied. Electron microscopy showed a haustorial body of 5–7 which contains many mitochondria and is surrounded by an electron lucent sheath of up to 4 in thickness. The sheath is limited by a heavily invaginated membrane of about 0.03 . The central body is connected with the sheath membrane by fingerlike convoluting protrusions.Samenvatting Er werd elektronenmicroscopisch onderzoek verricht aan haustoriën, geïsoleerd uit komkommerbladen geïnfecteerd met echte meeldauw (Sphaerotheca fuliginea).De haustoriën bevatten een centraal lichaam van 5 to 7 met veel mitochondriën dat omgeven is door een schede van maximaal 4 die de elektronenbundel gemakkelijk doorlaat. De schede wordt begrensd door een geïnvagineerde membraan van ongeveer 0,03 .Het centrale lichaam is via kronkelend verlopende uitstulpingen verbonden met de schedemembraan.The study has been carried out at the Laboratory of Phytopathology, State Agricultural University, Wageningen, in connection with the activities of T.N.O. Research Unit for Internal Therapy of Plants.     

Production of Beauvericin by Different Races of Fusarium Oxysporum F. sp. Melonis, The Fusarium Wilt Agent of Muskmelon

Fourty-four strains of Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from plants of melon with Fusarium wilt symptoms. Among these strains, thirty-nine were characterized for their pathogenicity on melon. Thirty-seven strains belonged to known races of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, while two strains were non-pathogenic. Four strains belonged to race 0, seven to race 1, four to race 2, and twenty-two to race 1,2. Beauvericin was produced by thirty-six strains in a range from 1 to 310gg^–1. Eight isolates of race 1,2 did not produce the toxin. In addition, of the two non-pathogenic strains, only one strain produced the toxin (290gg^–1). The production of enniatin A₁, enniatin B₁, and enniatin B was also investigated. Enniatin B was the only enniatin detected, being produced by eleven strains belonging to all the races, with a range of production from traces to 60gg^–1. Finally, melon fruits belonging to two different cultivars (Cantalupo and Amarillo) were artificially inoculated with one strain of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis (ITEM 3464). Beauvericin was detected in the fruit tissues of both cultivars at a level of 11.2 and 73.8gg^–1, respectively. These data suggest that the production of both the toxins is not related to the pathogenicity of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, nor to the differential specificity of the races. The results confirm that beauvericin is a common metabolite of phytopathogenic Fusarium species.     

Identification and Detection of Rosellinia Necatrix by Conventional and Real-time Scorpion-PCR

Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA genes of Rosellinia necatrix to develop a PCR-based identification method. Screening the primers against two isolates of R. necatrix and six other Rosellinia species resulted in the amplification of a single specific product from R. necatrix for most of the primer pairs. Two primer pairs (R2-R8 and R10-R7) confirmed their specificity when tested against 72 isolates of R. necatrix and 93 other fungi from different hosts and geographic areas. The R10 primer was modified to obtain a Scorpion primer for detecting a specific 112bp amplicon by fluorescence emitted from a fluorophore in a self-probing PCR assay. This assay specifically recognised the target sequence of R. necatrix over a large number of other fungal species. In conventional PCR, with primer pairs R2-R8 and R10-R7, 10-fold dilutions of R. necatrix DNA indicated a detection limit of 10pgul^-1 using a single set of primers and 10fgl^-1 in nested-PCR. For Scorpion-PCR, the detection limit was 1pgl^-1 and 1fgl^-1 in nested Scorpion-PCR, i.e. 10 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. A simple and rapid procedure for DNA extraction directly from soil was modified and developed to yield DNA of purity and quality suitable for PCR assays. Combining this protocol with the nested Scorpion-PCR procedure it has been possible to specifically detect R. necatrix from artificially inoculated soils in approximately 6h.     

Electron microscope observations of nuclear polyhedra fromMalacosoma neustria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae

The nuclear polyhedral bodies fromMalacosoma neustria are enclosed within a membrane. The diameter of the nuclear polyhedra varies from 0.9 to 2.8 with an average of 1.8 . In the nuclear polyhedra the rod-like virus particles occur both singly and in bundles. The single virus rods are enclosed within two membranes, namely the intimate membrane and the developmental membrane. The virus rods which occur in bundles have an intimate membrane just like the single virus rods, whereas the developmental membrane encloses the whole bundle. The virus rods are closely packed by the intimate membrane and between the intimate and the developmental membrane is a space. The diameter of the virus rods without membranes, determined from sectioned polyhedra, is about 25 m and the length 250 m.     

Effect of acetochlor treatment on Fusarium wilt and sugar content in melon seedlings

Pretreatment of soil with the herbicide acetochlor at 0.1–1g g^–1 significantly decreased incidence of wilt due toFusarium oxysporum f. sp.melonis in melon seedlings. Glucose, fructose and sucrose increased in leaves of inoculated and uninoculated melon plants following acetochlor treatment. The increase in sugar levels in stems and roots was less pronounced. Light intensity affected sugar content and disease incidence. The percentage of diseased plants was significantly higher in untreated plants grown under 165E m^–2 sec^–1 compared to plants grown under 300E m^–2 sec^–1. Lowering light intensity resulted in reduction of levels of total sugars on the third and sixth day after inoculation. Acetochlor had little or no effect on growth rate or sporulation of the pathogen in culture. The colonization rate of diseased plant stems by the pathogen was similar in herbicide-treated and untreated plants, thus excluding the possibility that disease reduction by the herbicide is related to direct fungitoxicity.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization. No. 1560-E, 1995 series.     

Resistance to benomyl and some chemically related compounds in strains of Penicillium species

TwoPenicillium species, vizP. brevicompactum andP. corymbiferum, were isolated from senescent petioles of cyclamen and from bulbs of lilies, respectively, both samples treated previously with benomyl. The isolates turned out to be very resistant to this fungicide when grown on malt agar, supplied with the fungicide; at a concentration of 2000 g/ml they were less inhibited than randomly chosen isolates of the same species on agar with 1 g/ml.The strains retained their resistance at the same level for at least 3 months after repeated subculturing on fungicide-free agar.Resistance to benomyl coincided with resistance to methyl-thiophanate and, to a lesser extent, also to thiabendazole and furidazol.Samenvatting Uit afstervende bladstelen van cyclamen en uit schubben van leliebollen, welke eerder met benomyl waren behandeld, konden respectievelijkPenicillium brevicompactum enPenicillium corymbiferum worden geïsoleerd. De isolaten blekenin vitro zeer resistent tegen het fungicide. De myceliumgroei van deze isolaten werd op moutagar met 2000 g/ml benomyl minder geremd dan die van willekeurige isolaten van dezelfde soorten op agar met 1 g/ml (Fig. 1).De isolaten bleven gedurende tenminste 3 maanden resistent na regelmatig overenten op voedingsbodems zonder het fungicide.De resistente stammen van de beidePenicillium-soorten bleken eveneens resistent tegen methyl-thiophanaat en in mindere mate ook tegen thiabendazol en furidazol (Tabel 1). De volgorde van de groeiremmende werking van deze fungiciden was voor de willekeurig gekozen (gevoelige) isolaten: benomyl>thiabendazol>methyl-thiophanaat >furidazol. Voor de resistente stammen was deze: thiabendazol en furidazol >benomyl>methyl-thiophanaat. In het feit dat een dergelijke verandering in volgorde van remmend effect ook voorBotrytis cinerea geldt, ligt een aanwijzing, dat de wijze waarop de resistentie werkt, voor deze schimmels gelijk is.     

Acquired resistance to benomyl and some other systemic fungicides in a strain of Botrytis cinerea in cyclamen

A benomyl-resistant strain (R) ofBotrytis cinerea was isolated from cyclamen that had been sprayed with relatively high doses of Benlate two weeks before. In vitro mycelial growth of this strain was less inhibited on PDA containing 1000 g/ml benomyl (Benlate, 50% W.P.) than that of another, wild isolate ofB. cinerea from cyclamen on PDA with 0.5 g/ml of the fungicide.The R-strain was also resistant to methyl-thiophanate, furidazol and to a lesser extent to thiabendazole. Mycelial growth of 5 other isolates was much more inhibited by benomyl than by thiabendazole.Resistance was retained for at least 20 weeks after repeated subculturing on fungicide-free agar.Samenvatting In een kwekerij, waar bespuiting met benomyl (Benlate, 50% W.P.) drie maal was toegepast ter bestrijding vanBotrytisrot in cyclamen, bleek de laatste bespuiting niet meer effectief. Integendeel, de ziekte breidde zich sneller uit dan onder normale omstandigheden het geval is. Uit bloemstelen van de aangetaste planten werd eenB. cinerea-stam (R) geïsoleerd, die zeer resistent bleek tegen benomyl. In vitro werd de groei van deze stam op aardappel-glucose-agar met 1000 g/ml benomyl (Benlate 50% W.P.) minder geremd dan die van een willekeurigB. cinerea-isolaat van cyclamen op het medium met 0.5 g/ml van het fungicide (Tabel 1, Fig. 1).De R-stam bleek eveneens resistent tegen methyl-thiophanaat, furidazol en in mindere mate tegen thiabendazol (Tabel 2).De myceliumgroei van vijf isolaten vanB. cinerea, verkregen van verschillende waardplanten, bleek in tegenstelling tot die van de R-stam juist sterker geremd te worden door benomyl dan door thiabendazol (Tabel 3).De R-stam bleef gedurende tenminste 20 weken resistent na regelmatig overenten op voedingsbodems zonder het fungicide.     

Quantitative studies on dispersal of Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides spores from infected wheat straw by simulated rain

Splash dispersal ofPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides spores from infected wheat straw was investigated using simulated rainfall (rate 13.8l h^–1 m^–2, volume mean diameter 2.9 mm) and wind (2 m sec^–1) in a raintower/wind tunnel complex. Spores were deposited on the floor of the wind tunnel up to 1 m upwind and 2.5 m downwind from the centre of the straw and impacted on vertical surfaces at heights up to 36 cm above it. Fewer spores were collected with increasing distance from the straw and with increasing height. Most spore-carrying splash droplets were in the size range 400–600 m and very few were less than 200 m.Our results show that these spores are generally dispersed over short distance, which is consistent with field observations.Samenvatting Spetterverspreiding vanPseudocercosporella herpotrichoides van besmet tarwestro werd onderzocht met behulp van nagebootste regen (13,8 l uur^–1 m^–2, gemiddelde druppel diameter 2,9 mm) en wind (snelheid 2 m sec^–1) in een proefopstelling van een regentoren en een windtunnel. Sporen werden op de vloer van de windtunnel gedeponeerd tot 1 m afstand tegen de wind in, gerekend vanaf het centrum van het tarwestro, en met de wind mee tot 2,5 m afstand daarvan. Op verticale vlakken werden sporen op een hoogte van 0 tot 36 cm boven de vloer van de windtunnel opgevangen. Naarmate de afstand en de hoogte toenamen werden er minder sporen gevonden. De meeste spetters met sporen hadden een diameter van 400–600 m en slechts enkele waren kleiner dan 200 m.Onze resultaten tonen aan dat de sporen in het algemeen slechts over korte afstanden verspreid worden, hetgeen overeenkomt met veldwaarnemingen.     

Epidemiology of Fusarium Infection and Deoxynivalenol Content in Winter Wheat in the Rhineland, Germany

Details of our long-term research programme concerning the epidemiology of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxin production are summarized. Evaluation of the occurrence of Fusarium spp., mainly on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), was carried out by investigating Fusarium infection and mycotoxin contamination. Two to 15% of grains were infested during 1995–1998 at three climatologically differing localities of the Rhineland, Germany. Disease progress was accelerated by rainfall during the flowering season. The species most frequently isolated were Fusarium avenaceum, F. poae, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. The mean deoxynivalenol (DON) content varied from 19gkg^–1 (1995) to 310gkg^–1 (1998) and was not always correlated with disease severity. Organic farming systems showed lower rates of infection with ear blight and lower mycotoxin contamination than conventional farming systems.     

A virus disease of cultivated mushrooms in The Netherlands

Samenvatting In Nederland treedt een ziekte op in de champignoncultuur, die gelijkenis vertoont met de Die-back disease in Engeland. Uit zieke champignons werden drie soorten virusdeeltjes geïsoleerd: bolvormige met een diameter van 25 m (Fig.2 en 3), respectivelijk 34 m (Fig. 1), en langwerpige deeltjes met afgeronde einden van 19×50 m (Fig. 2).Inoculatie met een celvrij preparaat, waarin naast enige virusdeeltjes van 25 m en 19×50 m voornamelijk deeltjes van 34 m voorkwamen, bracht voor de ziekte karakteristieke symptomen teweeg. Herisolatie van de drie soorten virusdeeltjes uit deze kunstmatig geïnfecteerde culture bleek mogelijk te zijn. Mechanische inoculatie kan een belangrijk hulpmiddel zijn bij het onderzoek naar infectivermogen van de verschillende soorten virusdeeltjes afzonderlijk.     

Real-time detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora nicotianae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. citrophthora</Emphasis>in citrus roots and soil

Two primers, specific for Phytophthora nicotianae (Pn6) and P. citrophthora (Pc2B), were modified to obtain Scorpion primers for real-time identification and detection of both pathogens in citrus nursery soils and roots. Multiplex PCR with dual-labelled fluorogenic probes allowed concurrent identification of both species ofPhytophthora among 150 fungal isolates, including 14 species of Phytophthora. Using P. nicotianaespecific primers a delayed and lower fluorescence increase was also obtained from P. cactorumDNA. However, in separate real-time amplifications, the aspecific increase of fluorescence from P. cactorum was avoided by increasing the annealing temperature. In multiplex PCR, with a series of 10-fold DNA dilutions, the detection limit was 10 pg l^-1 for P. nicotianaeand 100 pg l^–1 for P. citrophthora, whereas in separate reaction DNA up to 1 pg l^-1 was detected for both pathogens.Simple and rapid procedures for direct DNA extraction from soil and roots were utilised to yield DNA whose purity and quality was suitable for PCR assays. By combining these protocols with a double amplification (nested Scorpion-PCR) using primers Ph2-ITS4 amplifying DNA from the main Phytophthora species (first round) and PnB5-Pn6 Scorpion and Pc2B Scorpion-Pc7 (second round), it was possible to achieve real-time detection of P. nicotianaeand P. citrophthora from roots and soil. The degree of sensitivity was similar to that of traditional detection methods based on the use of selective media. The analyses of artificially and naturally infested soil showed a high and significant correlation between the concentration of pathogen propagules and the real-time PCR cycle threshold.     

Biological control of cucumber powdery mildew by Tilletiopsis minor

Samenvatting Onder optimale omstandigheden konT. minor de ontwikkeling van komkommermeeldauw (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) tegengaan.Spuiten met 2×10⁷ sporen ml^–17 dagen na inoculatie met komkommermeeldauw gaf een reductie van meeldauwontwikkeling van ongeveer 90%. Wanneer een tweede bespuiting met dezelfde concentratie sporen 3 dagen na de eerste werd toegepast bleven de planten vrij van meeldauw tot ze werden opgeruimd 3 weken later.Bij een R.L. lager dan 70% en een temperatuur boven 30 °C had geen van de behandelingen succes. T. minor bleek ongevoelig voor dimethirimol (Milcurb) bij een concentratie van 125 g ml^–1, terwijl er gemakkelijk een mutant kon worden verkregen, die resistent was tegen 100 g fenarimol ml^–1, bij gelijk blijvende groeikracht en pathogeniteit ten opzichte van komkommermeeldauw, waardoorT. minor ingepast kan worden in een schema voor geïntegreerde bestrijding.     

Germination of powdery mildew conidia in vitro on cellulose membranes

Conidia of several powdery mildews were found to germinate to a high and reproducible percentage on 25 m thick cellulose membranes, laid on modified Czapek Dox agar in Petri dishes. Germination on 45 m thick, uncoated cellulose, coated cellulose, cellulose acetate and collodion membranes always was lower and more irregular than on 25 m thick cellulose. Probably, the water permeability of the membranes is of importance in causing a humidity gradient favourable for germination of powdery mildew conidia.Samenvatting Bij incubatie van conidiën van echte meeldauwschimmels op 25 m dikke cellulosemembranen, gelegd op agar in Petri-schalen werden hoge kiemingspercentages verkregen. Kieming op 45 m dikke, ongecoate cellulose, gecoate cellulose, cellulose-acetaat- en collodionmembranen was altijd slechter en onregelmatiger dan op 25 m dikke cellulosemembranen. Waarschijnlijk is de waterdoorlaatbaarheid van de membranen van belang voor de kieming door de vorming van een vochtigheidsgradient.     

Drain of nutrients imposed when Aphis sambuci and a. fabae feed on the inflorescence of Yucca flaccida,and the amounts retained by the aphids

For the production of 1 g dry weight of aphids about 10 g dry weight (55 ml) of sieve tube sap ofYucca flaccida is required, provided all N taken up by the aphids is retained by them. The production capacity of an averageYucca leaf was calculated at 4 mg dry weight of aphids per day or 30 g per cm² leaf area per day. Compared with N only about 30% of the P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca ingested by the aphids is retained by them, apparently in the same mutual ratios as these elements occur in the sieve tube fluid.Samenvatting Bij een aangenomen 100% benutting van de door luizen uit zeefvaten opgenomen N, is voor de ontwikkeling van 1 g drooggewicht vanA. fabae enA. sambuci ca. 10 g droog zeefvatensap nodig (55 ml). De produktiecapaciteit van eenYucca blad van gemiddelde grootte werd berekend op 4 mg droge luis per dag, overeenkomend met ca. 30 g per cm² bladoppervlak.Vergeleken met die van de N is de benutting van de door de luizen opgenomen hoeveelheden P, K, Na, Mg, en Ca slechts ongeveer 30%; dit gebeurt in ongeveer dezelfde onderlinge verhoudingen als waarin deze elementen in het zeefvatensap aanwezig zijn (Tabel 1).     

Cucumis virus 2 in Nederland

Summary Some properties ofCucumis virus 2, occurring in The Netherlands were studied. From electron micrographs can be concluded that the virus particles are rod-shaped, with a length of about 325 m (fig. 1, 2 and 3).The thermal inactivation point, the dilution-endpoint and the length of the rods of this virus agree with those ofCucumis virus 2 as described in literature. There is a close resemblance of this virus with tobacco mosaic virus.     

Infection of Tomicus piniperda (Col., Scolytidae) with Canningia tomici sp. n. (Microsporidia, Unikaryonidae)

Canningia tomici sp. n. (Microsporidia, Unikaryonidae) infects the midgut epithelium, the gut muscules, Malpighian tubules, connective tissues, adipose tissues and the gonads of the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). The infection is present in populations of Tomicus piniperda in Europe and in the United States. Uninucleate oval single spores occur in two sizes: 2.8±0.4× 1.4±0.4m and 3.8±0.3×2.0±0.2m. The polar filament of this microsporidium is fixed subapically in a flat anchoring disc. The thick posterior lamellae of the binary polaroplast are asymmetric due to the lateral fixation of the polar filament.     

Particle length of various isolates of potato virus S

The normal lengths of virus particles of five isolates of potato virus S, which in previous experiments had been detected to differ extremely in translocation speed in potato plants, were found to vary only from 641 to 655 m. However, these differences are not significant and the isolates are therefore considered to have a particle length of 650 m in agreement with Brandes' recent conclusion (1967).Samenvatting Er werd vastgesteld, dat de normale lengte van de virusdeeltjes van vijf isolaten van het aardappel-S-virus, waarvan in eerder uitgevoerde proeven was aangetoond dat ze met verschillende snelheden in aardappelplanten werden getransporteerd, varieerden van 641 tot 655 m. Aangezien de verschillen in de berekende lengten onbetrouwbaar zijn moet worden geconcludeerd dat de isolaten een gelijke normale lengte bezitten. Deze kan vanwege zijn overeenstemming met de gegevens van Brandes (1967) gesteld worden op 650 m.