The Virus Diseases of Lily in Hokkaido

Field surveys of virus diseases of lilies (Lilium leichtlinii var. maximowiczii Baker and L. elegans Thunb.) were carried out in Hokkaido, in 1986. The incidence of virus diseases was lower in the seed-produced fields covered with knitted, white, high-density polyethylene nets than in the commercial fields without nets. Three viruses isolated from the naturally infected Maximowicz's lily plants were identified as cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), lily symptomless virus (LSV) and tulip breaking virus (TBV) by their host range and immunoelectron microscopic examination. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), CMV was mostly detected in Maximowicz's lily plants with mosaic or necrotic fleck, while LSV was frequently detected in Asiatic hybrid lily with mosaic symptoms. Three viruses were also often detected in many symptomless lily plants. It is recommended to identify the viruses by using serological tests, such as ELISA.