AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS LESIONS IN NICOTIANA GLUTINOSA L.

Ultra-thin sections of Nicotiana glutinosa L. leaves inoculated with a concentrated solution of tobacco mosaic virus were made at short intervals from 0 to 78 hours after inoculation. Eight hours after inoculation, the size of starch grains increased. This was followed by rupture of cytoplasmic and chloroplast membranes. At about 24 hours there was a great increase in number of mitochondria, which persisted until about 60 hours, when some became electron opaque while others appeared to disintegrate. Finally, the cell contents were compressed into one area of the cell, where they became electron opaque. This was accompanied by collapse of the rest of the cell and tearing away of the cell walls from adjacent cells. The nucleus remained stable and intact for as long as observations could be made. No identifiable virus particles were seen.