~n 1 6 With I plate

SUMMARY A mechanically transmissible virus causing leaf mottling and ringspotting of Passijlora edulis var. flavicarpa in the Ivory Coast is described. Its particles are flexuous rods 810-830 nm long and 15 nm wide. It infects mainly species of Passifloraceae and Leguminosae ; Passiflora foetida is a good diagnostic host. Aphis gossypii and Aphis spiraecola transmit the virus after brief acquisition feeds. Seed transmission was not detected. I n crude sap of P. eddis, infectivity was lost after IO min at 65-70 OC, 12-14 days at 24 "C or dilution to IO-'. A purification method is described, using Triton-X-Ioo as clarifying agent. The virus is serologically related but not identical to passionfruit woodiness virus from Queensland. The virus seems to belong to the potato virus Y group and has the cryptogram +:+/(6):E/E: S/Ap. It is designated passionfruit ringspot virus