Thermotherapy of lettuce mosaic virus infected seeds

Abstract

Treating lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) infected seeds by dry heat at 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 85°C for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days showed that exposure to 85°C for any ofthe tested periods eradicated the virus, but greatly reduced seed germination. However, treating seeds-at 800C for 3 or 4 days was effective in eradicating the virus without a significant reduction in seed germination. Imbibing LMV-infected seeds in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and heating"at 22,38 and 40°C for 5,10 and 15 days resulted in complete inac-tivation of the virus in both cultivars, Balady and Eskandrany, with no significant effect on seed germination only when seeds were imbibed in PEG and heated at 40°C for 10 days