Some experiments and considerations on the identification of witches' broom viruses,especially in clovers,in the Netherlands and Italy

Witches' broom phenomena (witches' broom growth + antholysis) observed inTropaeolum majus and in clovers in the Netherlands and in several wild and cultivated plants in Italy were demonstrated to be due to virus infection. The virus(es) could be transmitted by grafting, through dodder and by means of leaf-hoppers (Euscelis spp. primarily). The virus isolates found in both countries did not differ appreciably in the symptoms they caused. Many of the deviations concerned have been known for a long time as teratological phenomena. In the extensive literature considerable confusion exists concerning the identity of several witches' broom virus diseases. They constitute a good example of the problem of virus variability. A continuous splitting of witches' broom viruses on the basis of slight differences in symptom expression or of vector specificity does not seem justified. Since no intrinsic properties of the virus(es) concerned are known, the only conclusion that can be drawn from the information available is that the Dutch and the Italian isolates show a great similarity to aster yellows virus as well as to tomato big bud, stolbur and other witches' broom viruses.     

Determination of residues of the molluscicide trifenmorph and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol: I.—Method

A procedure has been developed for the analysis of crops and soils for residues of trifenmorph (N-trityl-morpholine) molluscicide and its breakdown product triphenylcarbinol (TPC). Samples were extracted with 20% by vol. acetone in petroleum ether and the efficiency of the extraction was established using radiochemical techniques. The extracts were subjected to column chromatography on basic alumina columns to separate trifenmorph from the TPC. The residues were converted to trichloroethyl ether derivatives followed by clean-up by column chromatography on silica gel and analysis of down to 0·02 ng by gas-liquid chromatography. Blank values were generally 0·01–0·02 ppm, recoveries were on average about 80% and were limited to this value by the yield of the etherification reaction. The storage stability of the residues at —10°c was satisfactory.