Characterization of Plant Viruses

Abstract

Grafting is a horticultural practice used for many purposes. In this, a shoot (scion) or bud isolated from one plant is joined to the rooted part (stock) of another plant, the union of two produces one plant. If either scion or stock contains the virus, the whole plant established through grafting also contains the virus. The success of grafting depends on the compatibility and union of stock and scion. The time required for transmission of virus through grafting may vary from several days to months. Graft inoculation is one of the important and widely used experimental means of transmitting viruses. It is also used as a diagnostic tool for detection of viruses, especially of woody plants. Grafting may succeed in transmitting a virus where other methods fail, thus grafting can be used to differentiate plants infected with virus from plants showing virus-like symptoms due to nutritional deficiencies.