Occurrence of a viroid in chrysanthemum in Brazil

A viroid was detected in Chrysanthemum plants showing symptotns of stunting in a commercial field in Brazil. Analysis by return polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (R-PAGE) of the nucleic acid preparations of leaves and flowers revealed the presence of a nucleic acid of low molecular weight with mobility within the range of viroids. The viroid-like band was completely eliminated by ribonuclease treatment or alkaline hydrolysis. The Chrysanthemum viroid was readily transmissible to Chrysathemum , tomnato and Gynura , which suggests that it may be an isolate of chrysanthemum stunt viroid.