Preservation of Alfalfa mosaic virus by freezing and freeze-drying and similarities to Cucumoviruses

Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) belongs to the genus Alfamovirus of the family Bromoviridae, for which the virions are stabilized by dominant protein–RNA interactions. The infectivity of purified AMV preparations stored frozen at −20°C decreased to 10–20% in 2 years. In addition, the virion peak profiles after sucrose density gradient centrifugation (SDGC) was reduced to a single, broad peak as a result of virus particle degradation, and the peaks for the extracted virion RNA decreased. However, additives such as 0.5% peptone or 2.5% sucrose were markedly protective such that infectivity and the SDGC profiles of the virus particles and virion RNA remained essentially unchanged after 5–8 years of freezing. Infectivity of the purified AMV decreased to c. 50%, and virus particles deteriorated immediately after freeze-drying. The addition of 1.0–7.5% sucrose suppressed alterations in infectivity, particle morphology and virion RNA after freeze-drying and other preservation processes. The characteristics of AMV preservation were similar to those reported in a previous study on cucumoviruses. Consequently, viruses belonging to the Bromoviridae may preserve well with sucrose in conjunction with freezing or freeze-drying.