A Virginia isolate of the common strain of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) from tobacco was compared to a TMV common strain originally isolated in 1927. Host range and symptoms on 22 different species were similar for the two isolates. The recent isolate induced more severe symptoms on four cultivars of Nicotiana tabacum, Capsicum annuum and Gomphrena globosa. Rod lengths, ultraviolet absorption profiles, and serological properties were identical. Serological relatedness was determined using agar gel diffusion and rate zonal serology. The common strain of TMV appears to have retained its properties and, thus, has a high degree of stability in nature.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")