Nepovirus Isolation and RNA Extraction

Viruses of the nepovirus genus are classified within the family of Comoviridae , along with the comoviruses and the fabaviruses. At the time of writing, there are some 27 confirmed members of the genus, with eight or so viruses that, following further investigation, may be confirmed as members (1 ). These viruses infect a very wide range of plant species, producing symptoms that include mottles, mosaics, ringspots, and systemic necrosis; often infections are symptomless, particularly in the later stages. All members are transmitted through soil by free-living nematodes, principally of Longidorus or Xiphinema species, feeding on roots. They are also transmitted and disseminated through seed and pollen of both crop species and weeds. It is the combination of a mode of transmission (ne matode) and virus morphology (po lyhedral) that provides the name of the genus.