[Properties of potato virus M and potato virus Y isolates in Ukraine].

Monitoring of viruses of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) was carried out. Twenty-seven varieties of tomatoes from different regions of Ukraine were tested for the virus presence. New symptoms, which had not been described before, were revealed. It was found out that the diseases were caused by Potato virus M and Potato virus Y. This is the first report about the infection of tomato plants with such viruses in Ukraine. Some biological, physical and chemical properties of the pathogens are studied. Differences between PVM, PVY and the known isolates were found in morphology and molecular weight of structural protein.

[Detection of viral infection pathogens in medicinal plants grown in Ukraine].

Monitoring of viral infection on medicinal plant plantations is carried out. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Valeriana officinalis L., Plantago major L. with symptoms of viral infection were revealed. Viral nature of symptoms was proved with biotesting method. Morphology and sizes of virus particles, detected in Panax ginseng method. Morphology and sizes of virus particles, detected in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Valeriana officinalis L., Plantago major L., were determined with electron microscopy method. The paper is presented in Ukrainian.

[The virus infection progression in potato plants in conditions of simulated microgravitation].

The influence of simulated microgravitation (clinostating) on the proceeding of mixed virus infection in Zhuravushka variety potato plants, infected with potato viruses X and M (PVX, PVM) was investigated. It was shown, that sensitivity of "virus-plant" system to microgravitation depends both on pathogene species and clinostating mode. Vertical clinostating was found to be more effective than horizontal one. By means of biotest, PCR and ELISA it was detected that potato plants, infected with PVX and PVM are released from PVX under the influence of clinostating during 19-47 days. Assume, that microgravitation is able to induce some protective reactions in plants that influence virus reproduction.

Aspects of adaptive answering formation in virus-host plant pathosystem for different wheat cultivars under simulating microgravity condition.

Investigations of prolonged clinorotation effect on some morphological and physiological parameters under Wheat streak mosaic virus WSMW-infection of Apogee and Lada wheat cultivars were carried out. Experiments were held on universal clinostat CYCLE-2. Clinorotation caused changing of WSMV virions shape and reducing of the virus reproduction. Apogee wheat plants grown under two stress factors (infection and clinorotation) produced more kernels than stationary (motionless) plants, but the average weight of kernel was lower. Under clinorotation changes in host plant-virus system take place and adaptive reactions for simulated microgravity conditions form. These lead to reduction of potyvirus replication.

[Comparative characteristics of reproduction of the wheat striped mosaic virus in winter and spring Triticum aestivum L. in natural agrocoenosis and during clinostatting]. / Sravnitel'naia kharakteristika reproduktsii virusa polosatoi mozaiki pshenitsy v rasteniiakh Triticum aestivum L. ozimykh i iarovykh sortov v prirodnykh agrotsenozakh i v usloviiakh klinostatirovaniia.

Microgravity (a transformed environment) was produced with the use of a multi-purpose clinostat. Object of the investigation was wheat striped mosaic virus (WSMV) affecting a great variety of wheat species in natural agrocoenosis, and super-dwarf cultivar Apogee in the transformed environment. Enzyme immunodetection (das-ELISA) as well as electron microscopy were employed for virus identification. Viral reproduction was found high (titre 1/2560) in winter and spring wheat species in agrocoenosis (natural transmissible background). Clinostatting in the horizontal and vertical planes (R = 400 mm and R = 250 mm) inhibited virus reproduction by day 21, 25 and 18 post inoculation, respectively. Clinostatting improved health of WSMV-infected plants and resulted in harvesting the first Apogee crop. Productivity of WSMV-infected plants after clinostatting was increased owing to a large seed content of the heads as compared with stationary and clinostatted healthy crops. This experience of inhibiting virus reproduction should be taken into consideration in virus-free seed production biotechnology development.

Clinostating effects on biochemical characteristics and productivity of healthy and virus-infected wheat plants of dwarf Apogee variety.

The effects of clinostating on physiological processes and biochemical characteristics of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) both healthy and infected by the wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) were studied. In six experiments, each lasting over 30 days, healthy and infected plants of the dwarf Apogee variety were grown under conditions of continuous horizontal and vertical clinostating with 2 rpm at 21 +/- 2 degrees C and 6000 1x (the optimal moisture of a substrate being maintained). The control variants (healthy and infected) were simultaneously grown under the same conditions of temperature and illumination in stationary containers and in open pots. During the experiment, visual observations were carried out over the state of tested plants. After completing the experiment, biometric indices, pigment, carbohydrate and dry matter contents were determined in all the plants. It was shown that clinostating sharply reduced the reproductive function of healthy plants and considerably affected their biomass (productivity) and concentration of chlorophylls and sugars. The viral infection resulted in further reduction of these characteristics. In control variants the viral effect was more significant. We speculate that clinostating reduced the rate of reproduction and spread of the virus.

Clinostating effects on Apogee wheat resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus.

The effects of vertical and horizontal clinostating with container velocity 2 rpm and platform velocity 1 rpm on Apogee wheat resistance to wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) were studied. For the first time the yield of grain was obtained from both, healthy and the WSMV-infected wheat plants under conditions of simulated microgravity (clinorotation) which is accounted for by the inclusion of various mechanisms in the process of plant adaptation to the factors of stresses. For the first time the stages of viral infection development were elucidated under the conditions of prolonged clinostating and the presence of the WSMV was detected in wheat plants on the 18th day after inoculation employing the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the test variant with vertical clinostating (R=1,0) the least favorable conditions for viral reproduction were identified. In the same variant the increases of the total nitrogen content in the ears were observed which may be an evidence of interferon-like protein synthesis in plant similar to the interferon system functioning in animals.

Influence of simulated microgravity on physiological reactions in healthy and virus infected wheat plants of different varieties.

The effects of clinorotation on the 3 varieties of the wheat plants were studied. The chlorophyll content, photochemical activity of the chloroplasts and changes in wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) were analysed. It is established that photosynthetic apparatus in wheat plants, particularly in bred Apogee variety, possesses considerable adaptation potential for the cultivation of plants under the spaceflight conditions.