Immunochemical specificity of cytoplasmic inclusions induced by viruses in the potato Y group

Antisera were produced to the cytoplasmic inclusions induced by Bidens mottle, pepper mottle, potato Y, tobacco etch, and turnip mosaic viruses. Immunodiffusion tests with sodium dodecyl sulfate-denatured antigens showed that the inclusion proteins induced by each virus were immunochemically unique, although related in some cases. No changes in the antigenic specificities of the inclusions were detected by propagating the viruses in different plant species. These findings are taken as new evidence that the inclusions are coded by the viral genome, and it is proposed that immunochemical properties of the inclusions may be useful in classifying and diagnosing viruses in the potato Y group.