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hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
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From: Adam Fikso <irisman at AMERITECH.NET>
Subject: Re: Variegated (questions)
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I'm going to add my observations, but Jim Waddick knows more about this t=han
most folks. Is he in the country or in China?

In viral infections (1) the virus is always tin the organism once it's be=en
acquired (as far as is known--just as in humans {chickenpox leading to
shingles, herpes leading to subsequent outbreaks } and makes its appearan=ce
when the plant is stressed.)  In irises the stress of summer heat leads t=o
loss of chlorophyll of the leaf tips.  In Passiflora-- areas between the
venules and veins become yellower and blotchy, and the venules become mor=e
prominent in color.   Improvement of the plant leads to  new leaves looki=ng
better than the old ones..  The all over appearance of a viral infection =is
usually different from the variegation we like and approve of in Arisaema=,
along the main veins of the leaflets. It tends not to be as clearly
patterned into particular areas of the plant.  However, it is entirely
possible that in some plants the virus becomes part of the plant's genome
and gets transmitted into subsequent generations.  This is not clear.

In general,  viruses are not transmitted via seed into subsequent
generations, however, there are thousands of idenitifiable viruses, and
because it can be shown that non-transmission is characteristic for most
plants and some known viruses, does not mean that it does not or cannot
occur in others.  Molecular analysis of the genetic makeup of many organi=sms
suggests that indeed, viruses and primitive bacteria were the source of s=ome
of the genetic makeup of all of us-- plants, birds,fish, furry animals an=d
humans, alike.

Beyond this, my knowledge base drops off into speculation and merely an
enlarged  vocabulary, e.g., potyviruses are so named because the class wa=s
first identified in potatoes... similarly tobamoviruses because they were
identified in tobacco, e.g., the tobacco mosaic viruses.

I am told by Jim Waddick that not all indefinite marbling, color breaks, =and
such, are due to viruses, but I remain skeptical here and until shown
otherwise will consider that these are, maybe, cases where the virus has
bcome part of the plant's genome-- with color breaks in tulips being such=an
example. Examples such as this are apparently non-infectious and are not
transmitted by application of the sap of an infected portion of a plant t=o a
non-infected plant--but I have yet to see a reference to such a test.
Neither have I conducted such a test.   I probably should, but I keep
forgetting.  (It would be simple enough.)       Adam in Glenview, IL.  US=DA
Z 5a



----- Original Message -----
From: "Russell Coker" <cokerra at BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: Variegated (questions)


> Hi Adam, Chris, Wilbert and All.
>
> I have a few questions regarding variegation I'm hoping someone can
> answer. This thread brought them to mind, so I figured "no time like th=e
> present".
>
> What is it about this variegation that makes you suspect it as being
> viral? Is it the over all marbling?  In Arisaemas, is a true mutation f=orm
> of variegation only cream or silver centered leaves?  If viral, can thi=s
> be intentionally induced or is it spontaneous?  If the plant produces
> offsets, does the viral variegation show up in them too?  Do seeds from
> this plant show the same viral variegation?  If viral, does it eventual=ly
> go away?
>
> I have a bunch of ringens seedlings and one shows this same marbling
> variegation.  It will be interesting to see what happens as it ages.
>
> Thanks!  Russell
>