Cytological Studies of Broad Bean, Vicia faba L., Plants Infected with Pea Mosaic Virus

Abstract

Broad bean, Vicia faba L, seedlings grown in the greenhouse were used as test plants and as healthy controls. Inoculum consisted of a mild strain of pea mosaic virus. Stems and stripes of epidermal cells from healthy and diseased plants were sectioned and studied before and after fixation. Cells of the diseased tissues were usually smaller in size than those of the healthy ones. Infected phloem tissues were dense and stained dark-purple. Inclusion bodies were found in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the epidermal cells obtained from infected leaves and stems. The cytoplasmic inclusions were distinct, amorphous and granular in texture. Intranuclear crystalline inclusions were mainly present within the nucleoli. No inclusions of similar appearance were found in sections obtained from healthy tissues.