Transmission of Little cherry virus -1 (LChV-1) by Cuscuta europea to herbaceous host plants

Little cherry virus-1 (LChV-1) was transmitted from infected Prunus avium F12 rootstocks by Cuscuta europea to Nicotiana occidentalis ‘37B’. Transmission of the virus was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis of total nucleic acid extracts from dodder and N. occidentalis. Symptoms consisted of curled leaves, reddening of leaf margins and veins, and plant decline. In parallel attempts virus transmission was not successful for LChV-2. Propagation of LChV-1 by mechanical transmission on N. occidentalis failed, however the virus was transferred serially by grafting.